The Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal disclosed this in Alausa at a press briefing to kick-start activities marking the 2014 International day of Cooperatives in collaboration with Lagos State Cooperative Federation Ltd. (LASCOFED).
According to the Commissioner the theme for this years celebration is “Cooperative Enterprise Achieves Sustainable Development for All” and the event is celebrated annually on every first Saturday in July to increase awareness on the co-operative way of life and to highlight the goals and objective of the United Nations (UN).
While urging societies that are yet to be captured to register at co-operative Area Offices for the revalidation exercise, he commended the Cooperative Arbitration Panel and other advisory units of government for providing succour and financial security as well as resolving disputes among cooperatives and Cooperators in the State.
As parts of activities marking the week, a thanksgiving service was held at Chapel of Christ the Light Alausa on Sunday 29th June followed by visitation to Care Homes across the state.Gifts ranging from Mattresses, Hairdryers, toiletries, packed foods and other daily needs were distributed.
The Lecture/Raffle Draw and exhibition on July 2nd witnessed a very large turn-out of cooperators and well-wishers at the Johnson-Agiri Co-operative Hall, Oko-Oba, Agege.
Speaking at the occasion, Lawal said the gathering was to assess and celebrate the cooperatives achievement as part of the 2014 International Cooperative Day.
He said political, economic and social changes in general have put pressure on government to limit their involvement in economic and social affair adding that fiscal stabilization programmes, institution building, privatization and liberation require civil society to take more active role in economic, social and political affairs.
He said the cooperative model of joint ownership and management is increasingly being used by employees to buy out their own enterprise in the transport services and manufacturing sectors, as a means of protecting and generating jobs in an era of continued downsizing, resulting from globalization and technological changes.
Lawal added that the theme for this year “Co-operative Enterprise, Achieves Sustainable Development for All” is apt and relevant as cooperative societies have clearly demonstrated that they are set to redefine the sustainable development models prioritizing social equity.
“The cooperative formula is seen as a solution that is not only durable but contemporary, resilient and relevant and therefore significant in establishing a more solid economic development through their economy, defense of the collective interest and the democratization of the entrepreneurial sector” he noted.
The raffle draws provided lots of consolations gifts to Cooperators in all the 20 Area Offices while the star prize, a Kia Saloon car was won by AJA Cooperative Multipurpose Society. The first runner-up Badagry CMS won a Giant Freezer and the second runner-up, Surulere CMS went away with a Power Generating set.
A special Jumat Service which held at the Secretariat Mosque on Friday July 4th was followed with a Novelty Football Match between the State Ministry of Agriculture and the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) drawing a score line of 2-1 in favour of the Ministry.
To round up the celebration was a Merit Award/Gala Nite held at the Sheraton Hotels and Tower, Ikeja on Saturday 5th July with the Governor of Lagos state, Mr. BabatundeFashola SAN as the Special Guest of Honour.
Represented by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Toyin Ayinde, Governor Babatunde Fashola, said the theme for this year was adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to further promote the cooperative identity and values while reinforcing her concern for the community.
He said Government all over the world can never underestimate the contributions of the Cooperators to good governance nor ignore the need to involve them in efforts at National development.
He noted that in Lagos State, the participation of the movement in the Transportation programme especially the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Scheme is highly commendable.
“In reciprocating this kind gesture, this administration has continued to provide the enabling environment for profitable investment of cooperative funds. The Cooperative Arbitration Panel and other advisory units of government have also been providing succour and financial security to the movement in this regard”, he disclosed.
He said further “As you are all aware, this administration places high premium on capacity building, and one of the major reasons why government established the state Cooperative College at Oko-Oba Agege is to encourage the act of cooperation and increase the knowledge and skills of co-operative toward reducing fraud and conflict within cooperative societies in the state”.
Fashola revealed that the College has trained 2,935 Cooperators in the last two years since it became operational, while urging other Cooperators to patronize the college and make maximum use of its services.
He further disclosed that government has created comprehensive and up-to-date data base with the newly installed capacity building software (COOPRATA) and assigned COOPRATA Statistics Manager in all the 20 Cooperative Area Offices to network with the Headquarters at Alausa. He said the essence of this software is to enhance record keeping, standardization of posting of books and annual accounts of Societies while also ensuring effective monitoring and supervision of the Societies.
