EPE News

Int’l Cooperative Alliance Hails Ayeola As He Emerges Africa President

Published

3 years ago

Oct 24, 2021.

Paul Mbagwu

By Babatunde Kaka

International Cooperatives Alliance has congratulated High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola as he emerges president of her African chapter.
Chief Ayeola with 37 votes defeated his closest rival from the Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Mr Malonza Macloud who garnered 24 votes…

The rise of High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola as the first Nigerian to become President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Africa Region is a beautiful story of resilience.

Ayeola, the Arobayo of Epe Land, on another look, embarked on a journey of fate hinged on dedication, bravery, diligence and commitment woven around integrity, a rare trait exhibited in a nation strolling off and on the corridors of the global corruption index.

Unknown to Ayeola, what started from scratch as a mere Secondary School Cooperative Group tagged “Alaro Standing Order,” turned out to be his biggest career prospect. This eventually overshadowed his professional teaching career as an economics educator who works with the Lagos State Civil Service as Deputy Director of Education, plying his trade in Epe, the Fish Basket of Lagos State.

Ekohotblog gathered that Chief Ayeola was elected on 15th October 2021 at the virtual 8th Technical Committee of Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference and the 15th Regional Assembly of ICA.

The Epe born Cooperator is a board member of the Alliance before his election and will take over the helms of affairs from Mr Japhet Magomere, who voluntarily retired after serving between 2018 to 2021.

High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola

According to the Voting Summary Sheet made available to Ekohotblog Chief Ayeola with 37 votes defeated his closest rival from the Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Mr Malonza Macloud who garnered 24 votes while Mr Duru R Mike from Zimbabwe National Association of Housing Cooperatives (ZINAHCO) clinched the 3rd position with 13 votes.

In the other elective positions, while Mr George Magutu of Kenya clinched the Vice President seat; Mr Mesfin Gebreslassie Gereger got the Ethiopia member-at-large; Mr Nyemb Jean Christian became Cameroon member-at-large; Mr Thapelo Obateng of Botswana was voted member-at-large; while Ms Hilda Ojall of Kenya clinched the Women Representative.

This online media also verified that the voting summary sheet was signed by the Interim Chairperson of the Elections Committee, Mrs Elizabeth Lekoetje, Commissioner of cooperatives, department of Cooperatives in Lesotho, Prof Kamau Ngamau, Vice-Chancellor, Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK), Dr Chiyoge Sifa, Regional Director, ICA-Africa and Mr Melvin Khabenje, Research Officer, ICA-Africa.

Reacting to the development, ICA-Global President, Dr Ariel Guarco was one of the first to congratulate the President-elect through the popular microblogging platform, Twitter.

“I congratulate the incoming @ICA_AFRICA Board members and encourage joint and collaborative work. Special congratulations to Ayeola Tajudeen Oriyomi for being elected President. Let’s work together to strengthen coop movement in your continent and at a global level!” he tweeted.

In another congratulatory message on Twitter, International Cooperative Alliance_AFrica @ICA_AFRICA1 said: “Join us in welcoming the new ICA-Africa President-elect, High Chief Ayeola Tajudeen, Oriyomi from the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria.”

In his short reaction to the development, High Chief Ayeola said: “I feel normal. I’m feeling like a winner and all praises and adoration to God almighty.”

While holding sway as the President of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, Chief Ayeola contributed to the development of cooperatives in Nigeria by creating an agriculture value chain with the establishment of cooperative staple foods.

He pioneered the establishment of a cooperative insurance scheme, introduced LASCOFED connect to facilitate communication among cooperatives as well as undertaking housing projects, health programmes for members.

Ayeola had presented to the Alliance a message of hope, bordering on repositioning the continental body to enable it to pick up immediately after the devastation occasioned by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

He revealed to the gathering windows of opportunities to explore, stating that the opportunities could be harnessed if members build on gains, particularly those made in the last 20 years.

Chief Ayeola presented 12 proposed major action plans some of which which are: Rigorous mobilisation of women and youths into the African cooperative movement through the provision of technical training and allied resources; capacitation of the national apex cooperatives in Africa through up-scaling of their potential; Increased involvement of the African cooperative movement in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) through synergies with relevant international development partners.

Others include the Promotion of synergies aimed at providing enabling environment for cooperative development through the development of the legal frameworks on cooperatives; and the Promotion of exchange programmes and study visits among African cooperatives.

It was also gathered that Chief Ayeola assured the gathering of his resolve to strengthen the youth network; promotion of cooperative education; promotion of the ICA, Africa region along with the eight sectoral divisions of the International Cooperative Alliance; promotion of successful cooperative models as observed in some African countries to serve as prototypes in the other African countries; and the promotion of transnational cooperatives through a proposed “Africa Cooperative Society.”

The best of Chief Ayeola is certainly yet to come as it is crystal clear from all indications that he’s specially made to go places. From Epe NUT (Nigeria Union of Teachers) Cooperative Society, he clinched the Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) top seat and eventually that of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN).

It was however not a surprise to stakeholders, well-wishers and associates when the news broke of his ascension to the exalted seat, the President of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) Africa Region.