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Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Koffy Dominique Kouacou(left); President, International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), Chief Ayeola Oriyomi; Representative from General Authority for Construction and Housing Cooperatives Egypt, Solonaz Ezzat and Executive Director, North Africa Sub-regional Office, Egypt, Ambassador Hazem Ramadan, during the 16th Africa Regional Assembly Conference in Abuja, yesterday.
Stakeholders at the just-concluded International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Africa conference in Abuja applauded successes recorded by housing cooperatives in Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya, describing them as models that should be emulated by other countries in the continent.
The three-day conference, which has as its theme, ‘’Cooperatives For a Sustainable Africa’’ drew participants from across the African continent. It brought together key stakeholders, experts, practitioners and policymakers to explore the significant role of cooperatives in promoting sustainable development on the continent.
The forum also seeks to create a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovative solutions to address Africa’s socio-economic and environmental challenges through the cooperative movement.
Speaking to journalists at the forum on Wednesday, the President, International Cooperative Alliance, North Africa Sub-Regional Office, Egypt, Major-General Waleed Elbarody, said the forum gave ample opportunity for members to brainstorm on how best cooperatives in the continent can be more sustaining.
He said: ‘’I’m very happy that in Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya housing cooperatives have been very successful over the years, only asking other countries to emulate the three countries mentioned, this will also help to boost food availability for us all.’’
According to him, cooperatives all over the continent should also focus on the importance of data to drive the cooperatives in this modern age, stressing, ‘’It will help create jobs for our peoples, make us know cooperative community and their businesses.’’
Contributing, Executive Director of ICA, North Africa Sub-Region, Ambassador Dr. Hazeen Ramadan, told the media that poor information flows and poor data usage are some of the challenges facing cooperatives in the continent.
He said: “I would want us to bridge the gaps in the region, Nigeria is leading in cooperative business, followed by others. Each time I attend this meeting, I’m always amazed and surprised at the level of activities that comes with it.
“I can assure you that if we follow the principles of cooperatives very well, then, there will be job creation for our people but of course, it’s upto each country based on the applicability of their laws, obsolete laws working against cooperatives needs to be amended or modified to meet present realities.’’
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