Caption: From left: Mr Olusegun Odedina; Mrs Ebun Akin-Falaiye, Executive Secretary, LASCOFED; Barr Oladipo Shobule, President, Lagos State Cooperative Federation, LASCOFED; Mrs Ayo Abiodun, Director, MCCI and Representative of Hon. (Mrs.) Folashade Ambrose Mebedem, Lagos state Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment; High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola, President, International Cooperative Alliance-Africa, ICA-A and immediate past President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN; and Lead speaker, Mr Hakeem Adeniji during the LASCOFED Leaders’ Conference, held at Novatel Hotel, Lekki, Lagos recently.
By Ishola Balogun
Cooperative leaders from across Lagos State converged at the Novotel Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, for the 2025 LASCOFED Cooperative Leaders’ Conference, with a clear call to action: embrace digital transformation and adapt to evolving economic and social realities.
The conference, themed “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” brought together representatives from over 180 cooperative societies to discuss pressing issues affecting cooperative development in the state.
Through plenary sessions, workshops, and breakout discussions, leaders explored opportunities, challenges, and strategies to strengthen cooperative institutions.
Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade & Investment, Hon. Folashade Ambrose Mebedem, praised the cooperative sector’s resilience, emphasizing the need for innovation while staying true to democratic values. “This gathering is proof that cooperatives remain a vital force in building inclusive economies,” she said.
President of International Cooperative Alliance-Africa, ICA-A, High Chief Oriyomi Ayeola, urged cooperators to become more politically active, push for government support, and consider elective positions to shape decisions affecting their growth. He also called for a Cooperative Development Fund and support for the new CFN leadership.
Speakers highlighted key issues, including tax reforms, digital cooperatives, and the need for fintech adoption. Mr. Hakeem Adeniji stressed that digitalization creates revenue-driven platforms and makes business easier, noting that only 45 cooperatives in Lagos currently operate digitally.
Dr. David Olatunji warned against clinging to outdated practices, emphasizing investment in financial literacy, modern education, and ethical standards. Breakout sessions agreed on key strategies, including capacity building, digitalization, youth inclusion, and community impact.
The conference concluded with a commitment to prioritize digital transformation and modern cooperative practices, with LASCOFED spearheading the digitalization process. The communiqué reaffirmed support for the Mojoda land project, a “Legacy project” funded through contributions from all societies.
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