By Naomi Uzor

LASCOMED Cooperative and Oyosowapo Group of Cooperatives have blazed the trail again by being the first set of cooperatives to take a bold step of complementing Government efforts in providing palliatives to Nigerians during COVID-19 Lockdown by distributing relief packages (Food Items) to over 10,000 member’s households.

In a statement by the President & CEO of the Cooperative Rating & Award Society of Nigeria (CRASoN), Mr. Victor Oyegoke, he disclosed that the effort is aimed at complementing the Federal and State Governments’ Stimulus package for the masses in Abuja-FCT, Lagos and Ogun States during this Stay-At-Home Order.

“This is a welcome initiative by these two leading National Cooperative Award Winners in Nigeria and worthy of emulation by others to serve as an encouragement to more Cooperative Societies and Unions to reach out and touch lives of their members,” he said.

He also enjoined members of cooperatives to adhere and follow health advice on the COVID-19 Awareness and Enlightenment by ensuring personal hygiene, wearing of face masks, Washing Hands and disinfecting all surfaces and environment regularly, Using of hand sanitizers and maintaining social distancing as the case may be to avoid contracting and or spreading of the virus.

“The effect of the total lockdown especially in Abuja-FCT, Lagos and Ogun States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is no doubt seriously affecting the socio-economic needs and aspirations of the Cooperators” he disclosed.

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While interacting with the President of LASCOMED Cooperative, Mrs. M. O. Bakare a few days ago, on the motives behind this great initiative of her Cooperative, she said, “we at our society are proactive leaders with deep human feelings, hence putting into action the Cooperative principles and ethical values of caring for others, social responsibility and concern for community comes naturally” she said.

Bakare urged other Cooperative Leaders, no matter how small, to embark on such initiatives that can help relieve their members’ predicament at this period and to demonstrate their Motto; “Each for All… All for Each!”

More so, looking at how Nigerians are yearning for Government palliatives on Emergency Food Response with majority of the masses saying they are hungry as a result of the lockdown, Oyegoke advised that each State Cooperative Federations in Nigeria should make extra efforts to mobilise their primary and secondary societies especially the most economic viable ones to raise funds to buy or make available food items and provisions for donations to members and by extension the communities where they all operate.

CRASON further noted the giant strides taken by the Oyosowapo Group of Cooperatives in collaboration with Oreoluwapo Ibafo Cooperative Union Ogun State and other affiliated unions/societies who have jointly and individually distributed food items to thousands of it’s members across Ogun and Lagos States.

According to him, this great initiative was led by the dynamic and philanthropist President of the Unions/Societies and General Manager, Mr. Lateef Ademola Akinola who said; ” this is in support of government effort to ease the pain of “STAY AT HOME ORDER” to curtail the spread of the Corona Virus in Nigeria.”

The General Manager of Oyosowapo Group of Cooperatives and a philanthropist of note has also doled out large sums of cash as giveaway on his social media page to members of the Cooperatives across Nigeria.

“We hope many cooperatives leaders and managers would emulate this type of initiatives and keep helping their members in a time as this in the spirit of Cooperative Nexus” he said.

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