2022 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE DAY CELEBRATION: AKWA IBOM STATE RECORDS SUCCESS.

The popular Ibom Hall was today filled to the brim as the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives celebrated the grand finale of 2022 International Cooperative Day which is the 100th since its inception in 1923 when it was first celebrated.

In his address, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel ably represented by the Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien stated that Government places a high premium on Cooperative activities in the State as a people’s centred developmental program and will stop at nothing in supporting and promoting the progress of Cooperative Societies in the State. Elder Essien maintained that the rise of coop societies is the rise of the economy of the state.

The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mrs Enobong Mbobo in her keynote address commended His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel and His amiable wife Dr Mrs Martha Udom Emmanuel for their constant support to the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives. She called on indigenes of the state to embrace Cooperative as a means of mutual assistance and self-empowerment. She stressed that Cooperative is a call to sacrifice and delayed gratification which will later birth wealth and sufficiency. Mrs Mbobo equally made a clarion call to the youths to rise and be actively involved in Cooperative activities.

The Chairman of STSB, Elder Godwin Udom who Chaired the occasion, said he is passionate about the Cooperative business model because of the unifying attribute of the group which in turn provides a platform and is a springboard for growth and success in business.

High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola, the President of Cooperative Federation of Nigeria and International Cooperative Alliance-Africa thanked the Executive Governor of the State, Mr Udom Emmanuel for believing in and investing in Cooperative business in the state. He suggested that due to the beneficiary nature of Cooperative, it should be brought into the secondary school curriculum as part of entrepreneurial studies. He said this will further educate our youths and prepare them to rise and be self-reliant.

The President of Akwa Ibom State Cooperative Federation, Elder Asuquo Jonah applauded Mr Udom Emmanuel for providing an enabling environment to celebrate this year’s event. Elder Jonah appealed to His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel to assist AKCOFED in completing their cooperative legacy building and also provide vehicles to make their routine supervisory and training services easy and realistic.

Goodwill messages poured in from individuals and groups, worthy of note is the one presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet on behalf of all the Commissioners in the state. Mrs Etiebet thanked His Excellency for His continuous support to the causes that will better the people of Akwa Ibom State. She equally thanked her colleague, Mrs Enobong Mbobo for putting together an impactful event and advised the cooperators to work hard at their businesses.

The event was graced by Hon. Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Royal Fathers and Clergymen and representatives of Cooperatives Society in the 31 LGAs of the state. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Grace Jim took time to recognized them and thanked them all for sparing their precious time to celebrate with the Ministry.