BY Busola Aro
The Edo state government says cooperative societies must rise up to their responsibilities to strengthen the socio-economic development of the state.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Patrick Uanseru, Edo commissioner of business, trade and cooperatives, spoke during a meeting with executive members of cooperative societies in the state.
Providing an overview of the ministry’s mission, goals, and key initiatives for cooperatives operating in the state, Uanseru spoke on the significance of accountability and transparency.
He said the state frowned at situations where cooperatives blatantly go against the law by refusing to make their books available for auditing.
“Unregistered cooperatives parading themselves as fully functional cooperatives must desist and do the needful by getting registered with the ministry,” the commissioner said.
Uanseru said the ministry was making efforts to bolster the capacity of the state’s cooperatives.
“We will be organising training and workshops to enhance the skills and knowledge of cooperative members, focusing on areas such as business management, financial literacy, and modern agricultural, as well as strategies for marketing cooperative products both locally and internationally, ” he said.
Uanseru also suggested organising trade fairs, exhibitions, and linking cooperatives with potential buyers.
He added that the ministry is proposing to establish a cooperative partnership with financial institutions to facilitate easier access to loans and grants for cooperative members.
On their part, the cooperative societies highlighted their contributions to the local economy and the challenges they face.
The challenges, they said, included access to finance, technical training, marketing support, and infrastructure.
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