LASG Celebrates 2019 International Day Of Cooperatives

Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives has said that the various cooperative societies in the State, within the last three years, have received claims of N350 million since the State Government instituted insurance package for cooperators across the State.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmola, who disclosed this on Tuesday at a Press Conference heralding the plethora of activities slated for this 2019 International Days of Cooperatives celebration in Lagos, stated that the sum of N55 million was paid as claims within the last one year to cooperators while the State government also registered additional 423 Cooperative Societies within the same period.

She said the event, which will be jointly organised by the Ministry in conjunction with Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED), the apex body for all Cooperative Societies in the State, is usually celebrated to showcase the achievements of Cooperative Societies with a view to motivating other Societies to work assiduously towards success and to enhance the establishment of more Cooperative Societies.

Ogunmola attributed the increased interest of Lagosians in cooperative societies to a favourable operating atmosphere made available by the State Government, adding that additional Cooperative Area Offices have also been created to enhance efficient and effective supervision of the activities of the various cooperative societies.

According to her, “Three new Area Offices were also strategically created to bring the number of Cooperative Area Offices to 24 in the State.”

She revealed that this year’s celebration with the theme “Coops 4 Decent Work” has been chosen to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 which is “Inclusive Development and Decent Work”.

“The message being passed across here is that Cooperatives are people-centred enterprises, characterised by democratic control that prioritise human development and social justice within the workplace”, the Permanent Secretary declared.

The week-long activities that begin today, 2nd of July, 2019 will run throughout the week and be rounded off with a thanksgiving service at Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa on Sunday, July 7th, 2019 which would also have been preceded by a Jumat Service at the Alausa Central Mosque.

Among several other activities slated for the week, a Luncheon/Merit Award to deserving Cooperative Societies and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the last one year will take place on Saturday, July 6th, 2019.

Recall that the International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year as established by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and embraced by the United Nations (UN) to increase awareness on Co-operatives and promote the Movement’s successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality and world peace.