Victoria Mbangwa
In a bold move to fight poverty and stimulate rural development, the Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s cooperative sector, aiming to transform over 370,000 registered cooperative societies into engines of community wealth, food security, and financial inclusion.
Speaking at the commemoration of the 2nd United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, announced the formal rollout of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), a flagship initiative under the Tinubu-led administration.
Describing the programme as a “strategic vehicle for inclusive growth,” Dr. Abdullahi emphasized that cooperatives are key to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty, particularly in rural areas where access to finance, markets, and infrastructure remains limited.
“Coperatives are actively transforming lives across the agriculture, housing, credit, transportation, and trade sectors,” the minister said “We currently have over 370,000 registered cooperative societies with millions of members working to boost rural livelihoods, improve agricultural productivity, and expand financial inclusion particularly among women and youth.”
The RH-CRRP includes a comprehensive package of reforms: policy and regulatory upgrades, digitalization of cooperative registries at all levels, and extensive capacity building for members and cooperative officers. It also focuses on entrepreneurship development and financial literacy to help cooperative members run sustainable enterprises.
Dr. Abdullahi highlighted the global significance of cooperatives, noting that over 1 billion people are members of cooperative societies worldwide, generating more than 280 million jobs nearly 10% of the global workforce.
A major step forward in the programme will be the upcoming National Stakeholders Validation Workshop, scheduled for July 30–31, 2025 in Abuja. The workshop will bring together cooperative leaders, development partners, and other stakeholders to finalize the reform blueprint.
In a goodwill message, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by Engr. Mohammed Bello, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using cooperatives as platforms for enhancing food production, improving market access, and promoting financial inclusion.
The event also featured symbolic honors as Dr. Abdullahi was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Cooperative Movement in Nigeria, while the Permanent Secretary was named Patron.
The launch of RH-CRRP signals a renewed national effort to reposition cooperative societies not just as support systems, but as frontline actors in Nigeria’s push for grassroots economic empowerment and sustainable development.
