The Cooperatives Federation of Anambra state (COFAS), has stated that the time has come to revalidate all cooperative societies from its moribund nature so as to revitalise it’s operations in the state.
The association made this known during the weekend at the celebration of the international Day of Cooperatives 2025 with the theme: “Cooperatives: Driving inclusive and Sustainable Solution for a Better World”, held at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Speaking in her welcome address presented by the Director of Cooperatives, Mrs Nwabugo Okonkwo said the gathering was an avenue for cooperators to interact and align themselves for a valued added services both to themselves and to the community at large and for the intending members, an opportunity to redefine their intent and wake up to the call for joint effort towards achieving grass root development.
Mrs Okonkwo stressed that Cooperative as a business entity is faced with lots of challenges ranging from financial incapacitation, marketing channels threats, mismanagement of funds, personnel services, leadership transfer and indirect ministry placement. She however appealed to the societies to subject their activities to cooperative field staff in the 21 L.G.A as the Divisional Cooperative Officers (DCOs) for the needed guidance and articulation of challenges.
Also speaking, the President, Cooperatives Federation of Anambra state (COFAS), Dr Ogochukwu Soludo, stated that COFAS is an official statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organising all cooperatives in the state, protecting their interest and representing them nationally and internationally.
Although he lamented that moribund nature of cooperatives where the cooperatives was duped which damped the zeal of original cooperators who wants to make a difference. :By his grace we have restored hope and today marks the beginning of a new cooperatives in Anambra. “We want to build up again, sensitize and revitalise the people to know the importance of cooperatives. As of today there are 18,500 cooperatives in Anambra stage but sad enough not up to 500 are functional”.
The COFAS Boss emphasised that COFAS is set to undertake more robust engagement, profile membership revalidation so that out of the 18,500, COFAS will be able to know how many that are alive, existing and how many are ghost so that we can have a proper data of how active cooperatives are. “We want to create COFAS MSME forum so that all the business enterprises that are being run under the “Coop Plan” we will help them formalise their operation to get them registered either as an enterprise or as limited liability companies and help them open the account and fund the account so that their cash flow will be understandable. Also be knowledgeable of the requirements for accessing loans from funding agencies. Of course those of them we find capable we recommend them. We get to train them so we can begin from the answers to questions”.
He pointed out that lack of funding, self centredness, ignorance, avarice, greed and lack of some cooperatives to follow laid down guidance are challenges that affect modern cooperatives. “Insecurity also a major problem, just recently the newly elected Treasurer was killed in his farm after ransome was collected”. While assuring the cooperators that COFAS will continue to advocate for the security of its members in rural areas.
Contributing, Commissioner for Industry, Anambra state, Mr Christian Udechukwu assured that the state government will do anything possible to ensure that COFAS becomes the best organisation representing cooperatives in Nigeria. He charged all cooperatives to be dedicated and ensure that there is annual reports as this will give way for government to monitor its activities and provide neccesary funding where applicable citing the Governor Soludo Palm oil plantation which in the next two years will boost oil production and increase return.
Addressing the Cooperators present, Mr Peter Udom, Anambra state Coordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), stated that apart from registering NGOs, NEPC equally register cooperatives as well. “Cooperatives have to produce their bye laws, registration certificate and thirteen thousand five hundred naira only for them to register with NEPC. He maintained that those in international farm practices are assisted with quality agricultural practices and also advocate for these cooperatives with the government as NEPC are currently advocating with the government to improve the security situation of the rural dwellers so that agro based cooperatives can boost their production.
In the same vein, Engr Waniboko Fidelis from Standard Organization of Nigeria, Anambra state office, maintained that they are available to assist these cooperatives to meet to standards. “You cannot transport your products without having the right quality trade mark which is the MANCAP certification. We are here because the Federal and state government and the organised private sector, wants to partner with you to ensure we assist you from cross-border to production of quality products for Nigerian use and that is the vision we are driving”. He explained that those exporting their products must obtain SONCAP and a certificate of conformity so that when you export your product you will not be rejected. “We are here to offer a solution to your needs”.
In the other hand, Chinwendu Eze from the Bank of Industry said the bank is here to serve, advise, give loans and grants when available. She disclosed that there are requirements needed to obtain such benefits such as the registration of your business name or a limited liability company. She commended the Commissioner for Industry for the support to Ndi Anambra businesses to access loans and opportunities through matching funds. Anambra as a commercial hub has benefited from these and as such boosts production.
In their separate remarks Rev Meengwangwa Benjamin Onyebuchi, Chairman of Awka North Regional Cooperative said the event was to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives. “Here we have vitamin A fortified cassava, rice, carrot potatoes, and ugu leaf and we also involve in different enterprises like the production of local stoves, disinfectant among others.
He lamented the issues of herdsmen attacks on farmland, kidnapping, lack of finance to improve production while seeking the intervention of the state government for the optimum maximisation of products.
Mrs Francisca Chinenye from Awka North equally asked the state government to help the cooperators in the financing aspect, provision of crops and fertilisers as some of them are discouraged due to a lack of these basic materials.
Mrs Ekemezie Filomina from Anambra East L.G.A and also the President Amarachukwu Cooperatives Society Umuleri noted that the association is doing his best despite the lack of funds needed to boost farming as well as the problem of insecurity from herdsmen who bring their cows to damage their crops and kidnapping which poses another threat to cooperators.
They all asked the state government for urgent intervention so as to achieve optimum production.
Among dignitaries present were reprentatatives from the Anambra State Business Agency, Head of Service Barrister Mrs Theodora Igwegbe, permanent secretary, Barrister Samuel Chinedu Ike, while some of the cooperatives include ADSI Cooperative society, Onyinyenyechukwu Exporters multipurpose cooperative society limited, Professional multipurpose cooperative society, as well as representatives from the 21 Local Government Area Council.
