Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED) held her Joint Cooperatives Rally at ‘Tayo Sobanjo Building, Cooperative House, Asero, Abeokuta Ogun State, Nigeria on Saturday, 23rd October, 2021.
ALHAJI (DR). ABDULRAZAAQ OLA BALOGUN FHNR, CBD AT THE YEAR 2021 COOPERATIVES JOINT RALLY, HELD AT OGSCOFED HEADQUARTER, ASERO, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE ON SATURDAY 23RD OCTOBER, 2021.
The OGSCOFED Limited President, Alhaji (Dr). AbdulRazaaq Ola Balogun FHNR CBD in his welcome speech said and I quote “I am delighted to welcome you all on behalf of the Board of Directors and Management Staff of our Federation, Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED) to the Glory of Almighty Allah (God).
Today State Cooperative Rally is to mark this year International Day of Cooperative which usually hold on the 1st Saturday in the month of July every year as approved by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global and the United Nations (UN). You will all remember that this Administration had consecutively held Three International Day of Cooperatives in 2015, 2017 and 2019 as agreed by our Cooperative Movement in Ogun State to hold it every other year and the Three were held on the exact days it was held worldwide. But for some circumstances beyond our control, it could not be held as scheduled. I however give glory to Allah/God that we still come together for this Joint Rally to mark the Celebration and Exhibit our existence despite all odds. Holding this Rally today reminds me of the way it was held at the tail end of the last Administration in 2013, which indicate that history is only repeating itself as the 2013 Cooperative Day was held in front of our Secretariat that year”.
Alhaji Balogun said “we would not gather here for this Celebration without reminding us of the theme of this year “REBUILD BETTER TOGETHER”. The theme was in recognition of the need for every one to pick up, after the disruption of Socio-economic lives and livelihood caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Fellow Cooperators, let me first acknowledge the resilience of Cooperatives and particularly the leadership of all Cooperative Societies in Ogun State for their responsiveness to the need of members by giving necessary succor to them at the peak of the Pandemic”.
He said “aside the COVID-19 Pandemic, our State is also at this point in time faced with other challenges like rising cost of items as a result of exchange rate rise, insecurity characterized by kidnapping, banditry and other restiveness/across the State. These have devastating effects on businesses, including Cooperative operations and continue to impact on livelihoods and socio-economic well-being of the people of Ogun State.
Let me conclude this part by charging all Cooperators across our State that Rebuilding Better Together is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders and that uprightness of leaders is a strong pillar upon which we can rebuild. Let us eschew the discrimination among ourselves, let us see us as one indivisible family to achieve our goals.
In concluding my speech, I want to sincerely appreciate the Planning Committee for this year Celebration, who after noticing the unending delay in the Celebration of this year International Day of Cooperatives decided that we should hold it this way today, I appreciate every member of this Committee for their time and effort in seeing to it that the Day did not go uncelebrated.
Despite various challenges faced, my Administration continue to introduce various innovative idea for the smooth and effective running of the Federation. Recently, we Launched OGSCOFED Digit Mobile App in collaboration with our technical Partner, PTAS Solutions International Limited. A staff of one of our Apexes recently developed a new and International Standard Cooperative Anthem, this will be launched in the course of this program today.
On behalf of the entire Cooperative Movement of Ogun State, I want to immensely appreciate our Amiable President of Cooperative Federation of Nigeria and newly elected President of ICA-Africa, Alhaji High Chief Tajudeen Oriyomi Ayeola, our President of Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited (OCCL) and CFN South West Regional Council Chairman-elect, Elder Felix Bamidele Ajibode, Our Cooperative Leaders from all the four corners of Ogun State, the Director of Cooperative Services, Ogun State, Pastor Samuel Mustapha for gracing this Rally.
My loyal and Amiable colleagues on the Board of OGSCOFED Limited, our unrelenting members of staff, my fellow Cooperators, I thank you all for your moral, spiritual and financial supports which led to the success of this memorable Celebration marking the last in the anal of the Celebration by my Administration. Thank you, Thank you and Thank you all”.
At the event, the Director of Cooperative Services in Ogun State, Mr. Samuel Mustapha who is also representing the Honourable State Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ganiyu Oladunjoye Hamzat, implored all representative of all Cooperative organization in the State that what we have experience today, preach unity, that no matter our differences we should remain united and stay committed to our common goal and objectives, without this, Cooperative cannot move forward.
Mr. Mustapha said we have the best system of Cooperative in Ogun State in all over 36 States in Nigeria, we have over 12,500 Cooperative Societies and Unions in Ogun State, we are more united, committed and from the experience from the field, we are law abiding. We should not allow any matter to divide us, we should continue to propagate the good news of Cooperative.
Thereafter, a Cooperative Anthem composed by Okanlawon Adebola was launched.
Click here to download the new Cooperative Anthem
Also at the event, award of recognition were given to some OGSCOFED Limited Branches.
Badejo Adeyemi
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