LAGOS KICKS-OFF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVES DAY CELEBRATION
Lagos State Government has kicked off the celebration of the Year 2024 International Day of Cooperatives, in conjunction with Lagos State Cooperatives Federation (LASCOFED), the umbrella body of all cooperative societies, with a week-long activity starting from Tuesday, 2nd July to Sunday, 7th July, 2024.
Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem revealed this today at a Press Conference organised to formally announce the celebration themed: “Cooperatives: Building A Better Future For All”, held at the Ministry in Alausa.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olugbemiga Aina, the Commissioner stated that Lagos often makes the celebration of International Day of Cooperatives on 6th July of every year, a springboard for creating awareness and deepening public knowledge on the benefits of cooperatives as it is a natural vehicle for collaborative partnership and fostering prosperity, contributing to economic, social, and environmental sustainability in the State.
Her words, “The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is creating an enabling environment in which Cooperative practice can stand on equal footing with other forms of enterprises and develop an effective partnership to achieve their respective goals because it acknowledged the over 3000 societies in the State as significant enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, and cultural advancement of our communities. They are platforms for promoting inclusivity, sustainability and self-reliance”.
“Today, the Cooperative Movement is more relevant than ever in overcoming the developmental challenges and the coming decades. They offer the chances of ending extreme poverty and deprivation, securing social inclusion, and reconciling economic and social objectives. Thus, the Cooperative Movement can create wealth for the poor, generate jobs for millions of unemployed the world over, check poverty and hunger, and above all, achieve global prosperity”, she added.
The Commissioner affirmed that the administration prioritises effective partnership with the Cooperative Movement and is working to establish clear goals, objectives, and accountability mechanisms guided by a shared vision and common understanding of the desired outcomes to maximise the benefits of effective partnership in the interest of members and the State.
According to her, the week-long activity, which commenced with the press briefing, include Visit to Orphanage/Old People’s Home on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024; Jumat Service at Alausa Secretariat Central Mosque on Friday, 5th July 2024; Grand Finale consisting of Lecture, Panel Discussion, Raffle Draw and Merit Awards on Saturday, 6th July 2024 and Thanksgiving Service holding at The Chapel of Christ the Light, Interdenominational, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja on Sunday, 7th July 2024.
President, LASCOFED, Oladipo Sobule remarked that cooperatives play vital roles as they serve as effective economic links with the grassroots and contribute massively to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).