Africazine:
The Nigerian government is set to transform cooperative societies through a new digitalisation initiative.
This effort aims to modernise operations and enhance transparency for over 30,000 registered cooperatives. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi announced this initiative, emphasizing its potential to improve governance and service delivery within the sector.
Nigeria’s Digitalisation Initiative for Cooperatives
The initiative focuses on creating a national cooperative database and implementing digital membership identification systems. These measures are designed to streamline operations and ensure accurate financial reporting. Abdullahi stated that digitalisation will foster efficiency, integrity, and inclusion, ultimately leading to sustainable growth in the cooperative sector.
He highlighted that cooperatives could play a crucial role in capital mobilisation and wealth creation when properly structured. The Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) aims to position cooperatives as essential tools for community development and poverty eradication.
Nigeria: Key figures on cooperative societies
- More than 30,000 registered cooperatives
Focus Areas of the Reform Programme
Key areas of focus for the RH-CRRP include digital registration, electronic documentation, and improved administration of cooperative societies. Abdullahi noted that these reforms align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for a One Trillion Dollar Economy by 2030.
The initiative is also set to harmonise outputs from stakeholder meetings into a final national document, which will adhere to international cooperative standards. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will lead this transformative effort, supported by various stakeholders.
Next Steps for the Initiative
- Finalisation of the national document for cooperative reform
- Implementation of digital registration and membership systems
- Collaboration with the Coalition of the Willing (CoW)
Nigeria is taking significant steps to modernise its cooperative sector through digitalisation.
