Cooperative Federation Decries Low Participation Of Women, Youths

Despite the contribution of the cooperative societies to poverty alleviation, the president of the Niger State Cooperative Federation (NISCOFED), Comrade Labaran Garba, has said there was a decline in the participation of young people and women in cooperative societies in the state.

Garba who made the assertion in Minna during the celebration of the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives, themed “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World”, warned that the trend poses a serious threat to the long-term sustainability of the cooperative movement and it’s contributions to poverty reduction and economic growth.

He said cooperative societies have continued to play a vital role in lifting people out of poverty by expanding businesses, improving agricultural productivity, and providing members with access to credit facilities, agricultural inputs, and social protection.

Garba however noted that the sector is facing several challenges, including inadequate youth participation, limited access to finance, weak institutional transparency among cooperative societies, poor adoption of technology, and low awareness of cooperative education.

In overcoming these challenges, he said it required stronger collaboration and sustained commitment from all stakeholders while urging women and young people to embrace the cooperative model.

He described cooperative model as a reliable pathway to economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.

“As we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also acknowledge the challenges confronting the cooperative sector. These include inadequate access to finance, limited cooperative education and awareness, insufficient technological adoption, and inadequate participation of young people” he declared.