Youths in Ogun State have been called upon to embrace the cooperative model as a sustainable solution to unemployment, poverty, and economic inequality.
The charge was made at the 2025 Ogun State Youth Cooperative Seminar held on Wednesday, April 9, at the Oba K. O. Olubiyi Conference Hall, Tayo Sobanjo Building, Asero, Abeokuta.
The event, organized by the OGSCOFED Youth Cooperative Multipurpose Society Ltd., drew participants from across the state and focused on the theme: “A Better World Through Cooperatives: Eternal Relevance and Youth Empowerment.”
Delivering the keynote presentation, Mr. Ola Otinwa, President of Ike-Oluwa Sagamu Remo CMU Ltd., emphasized that “cooperatives are not relics of the past, but revolutionary tools for building sustainable futures.”
According to him, youth cooperatives are springing up across Africa, solving local problems and providing new pathways for wealth creation and leadership.
“From Kenya to Rwanda and from Kaduna to Akure, young people are using cooperatives to create jobs, improve food systems, and bridge the digital divide,” Otinwa noted.
Emphasizing the relevance of youth cooperatives globally, Otinwa cited success stories including Kenya’s Youth Bunge, South Africa’s Siyavuna Cooperative, and Nigeria’s own Youth in Agribusiness Cooperative in Kaduna and Young Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Ibadan.
“These cooperatives have not only empowered thousands of youths but also created lasting impacts in local economies,” he said.
The President of OGSCOFED Ltd., Alhaji Abdulwasiu Olaleye, who served as the Chief Host, charged Nigeria youths to embrace cooperative societies as viable tools for social and economic transformation, especially tackling unemployment and poverty.
Olaleye reiterated that the organization’s commitment to deepening youth involvement in the cooperative movement.
“Cooperatives remain one of the most inclusive and democratic models of enterprise. The youth must take ownership and shape it for their future,” he asserted.
‘We Are Change-Makers of Today’ – OGSCOFED Youth President Rallies Support for Youth Cooperatives
In his welcome address at the 2025 Ogun State Youth Cooperative Seminar, President of OGSCOFED Youth Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Badejo Adeyemi, charged youths across the state to embrace the cooperative movement as a driving force for leadership, innovation, and sustainable development.
“Today is more than a gathering; it is a movement of ideas, innovation, leadership, and transformation anchored in the spirit of cooperatives”.
“We are here because we believe that youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the change-makers of today”, Badejo said.
Reflecting on a key global development, he noted the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, calling it a timely reminder of the relevance of youth in global cooperative discourse.
“This year’s global theme, ‘Cooperatives Build a Better World,’ resonates with our local theme: ‘A Better World Through Cooperatives: Eternal Relevance & Youth Empowerment.’ It emphasizes the power of cooperatives in fostering inclusive and prosperous societies—especially through youth engagement,” he added.
He emphasized the goals of the seminar, which include inspiring purposeful youth leadership, increasing youth participation in cooperative governance, promoting peacebuilding, and exploring technology-driven cooperative solutions.
Badejo also appealed to elders in the cooperative movement for mentorship and support, while calling on the Ogun State Government to implement interventions such as grants and skill acquisition programs tailored for youth cooperatives.
“We need deliberate efforts to establish youth cooperatives at all levels—from primary societies to state apex organizations in Ogun State,” he declared. “Investment in youth cooperatives is an investment in Ogun State’s economic future and community well-being.”
The seminar also featured insights from Mr. Abiodun Paul Okosulubo, President of OGSCOFED Staff CTCS Ltd., who encouraged young participants to explore various cooperative models such as agricultural, financial, worker, and even digital platform cooperatives.
Participants were also exposed to key highlights of the cooperative movement including access to finance, cooperative values, leadership development, sustainable development, and continuous relevance.
