Oyo Government Reaffirms Commitment to Cooperative Empowerment, Backs Regional Funding Drive

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to revitalizing the cooperative movement as a key pillar of sustainable economic growth and community development. This was declared at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting of the Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited (OCCL), held recently in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Representing the Oyo State Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, Honourable Adeniyi Olabode Adebisi, the Permanent Secretary Mr. Olajide Mamud Okesade, who welcomed the delegates on behalf of the Commissioner expressed readiness of the Oyo State Government to collaborate with other South-West states through cooperative structures.

“Oyo State is proud to host this pivotal meeting. His Excellency, Governor Makinde, will be glad to align with a development-focused agenda that uplifts our people and communities through the cooperative system,” he stated, emphasizing the state’s openness to innovation, partnerships, and regional unity through cooperative empowerment.

The President of OCCL, Elder Felix Ajibade, laid out the purpose of the meeting, highlighting the critical need to secure international funding and partnerships for cooperative growth in the South-West. He referenced the outcomes of the recent World Meets in Giessen Conference held in Freiberg, Germany, where global experts, including Nigerian representatives, deliberated on new economic opportunities for grassroots organizations.

Ajibade lamented the long-standing neglect of cooperative societies since the military era and stressed the need for a revival rooted in legacy and innovation. “In the era of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, cooperatives were pivotal in promoting agricultural development, job creation, and community banking. Sadly, those support structures have been eroded over the years,” he said. “This gathering is a wake-up call to reclaim that legacy and reposition our cooperatives to access global resources.”

Representing Osun State was Chief Bayo Ogungbangbe, Commissioner for Cooperative and Empowerment, shared that the Osun State Government under Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke had recently released dedicated funds to strengthen cooperative societies, urging other states to follow suit.

“Cooperative structures offer a time-tested path to economic inclusion and resilience,” Ogungbangbe affirmed. “With joint effort and state backing, we can once again make cooperatives a powerful engine of prosperity for our people.”

Also lending support was Mr. Samuel Mustapha, Director of Cooperative Services in Ogun State, who represented the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative, Mr. Ademola Balogun. Mustapha recalled the robust legacy of cooperatives in the former Western Region and encouraged states to collectively pursue international funding opportunities.

“Cooperatives were once the lifeblood of our rural and semi-urban economies. It is time to revive and strengthen that legacy with bold, forward-thinking policies and actions,” he said.

The Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited (OCCL) is a regional body that unites cooperative movements across the six South-Western states—Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos. OCCL’s mission is to promote financial inclusion, empower local communities, and rebuild the cooperative model that once anchored the region’s economic success in the era of Western Nigeria.

At the center of this renewed push is the desire to leverage global partnerships and development finance mechanisms. The World Meets in Giessen conference, hosted by IHK Global, brought together over 150 entrepreneurs and experts from Germany, Nigeria, China, Brazil, India, and other nations to explore international cooperation.

The meeting in Ibadan concluded with a firm resolution to engage donor agencies, development finance institutions, and relevant government bodies—both nationally and internationally—to secure funding and technical assistance for cooperative rejuvenation in the South-West.

Stakeholders expressed optimism that with the full support of forward-thinking governments like Oyo’s, the cooperative movement will regain its historic role as a catalyst for inclusive, community-driven economic transformation.