•Unveils CFN’s website
His Excellency, Executive Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has been instituted as the Patron of Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN).
The investiture ceremony was held at the 5th National Cooperative Summit and International Cooperative Day celebration of the national cooperative apex body-CFN held recently in Jos, Plateau State, which had the participation of over 500 cooperative leaders, stakeholders and corporate organizations
While delivering his speech during the presentation of plaque and certificate to the Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Professor Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, the President of Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola, explained that Governor Lalong was appointed from the retinue of high-profile and distinguished candidates. However, the choice of Governor Lalong by the Cooperative Movement of Nigeria was due to the commitment and staunch support of the Governor to the Plateau State Cooperative Movement. He expanded that Governor Lalong was nicknamed the “Alert Governor” by cooperators in Plateau State due to his prompt and monthly remittance of Cooperative deductions. Aside this, the Governor has also established several economic programmes to foster the Cooperative Movement in Plateau State.
The Governor justified his appointment by the national Cooperative Movement in his keynote address which was delivered by the Deputy Governor, Professor SonniT yoden. He noted that his administration was committed to the development of Cooperatives in Plateau State through provision of enabling environment for Cooperative societies to thrive.
He further explained that his government established several economic policies to support Cooperatives in Plateau State. According to him, “One of the deliberate policy is the creation of Plateau state Micro finance development Agency (PLASMEDA) in order to provide financial and capacity training support for small and micro enterprises (SME) and so many cooperatives fall into this category of business activities.”
Governor Lalong said, “To further encourage the cooperative activities in the state, there have been timely releases of cooperatives’ monthly remittances for the worker cooperatives and we are willing to sustain this trend. Aside this, the state has remained resolute in paying its counterpart funding for several economic intervention programmes such as The Anchor Borrowers, NIRSAL etc. In addition, the State introduced tractor ownership and hiring schemes for individual farmer cooperatives and associations. We are doing all these to fulfill our promises of sustainable economic empowerment to our citizenry.
The Governor concluded his speech by restating his commitment and support to the Plateau State Cooperative Movement and the national Cooperative Movement.
Unveiling of CFN’s Website
During the event, the CFN President, High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola, also reminded participants of one of the resolutions of the 4th National Cooperative Summit held in Abuja in 2018 that CFN should improve on communication and laundering the image of Cooperatives in the Country. He said that the leadership of CFN had taken positive steps to establish a website for the cooperatives in Nigeria. Chief Ayeola explained that the website, was developed by Africa Prudential Plc.
The Governor thereafter unveiled the website to the delight and applause of the participants.
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