FCT’s ‘KUDA’ Cooperative Society Rallies Members For Grassroots Transformation

The Kunav Development Association (KUDA) of Benue State Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has rallied members and stakeholders to transition from internal synergy to impactful grassroots economic transformation.

This resolution was reached at the KUDA Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited 2026 Summit held at the George Town Hotel, Gwarimpa, Abuja, with the theme, “Empowering Communities through Cooperative Excellence.”

The event brought together prominent financial experts, policymakers and community advocates to proffer solutions for sustainable wealth creation and the inclusion of vulnerable groups.

Prominent among the dignitaries who attended to support the movement were a former All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Godwin Tyoachimin; Atsen Jonathan Ahua; Peter Kumba; and Dr Dooshima Tsumbu, alongside a host of other distinguished guests, community leaders, and cooperative stakeholders.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of KUDA Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, Emmanuel Terhemen Aondoakaa, reminded cooperators that the organisation is built on systemic empowerment rather than charity.

“Cooperatives are not a charity; they are a means of building systems where ordinary people own their economic future. That is the true definition of empowerment,” Aondoakaa maintained.

He urged all 47 active members to see themselves as owners and ambassadors, tasking them to drive strategic growth by expanding membership to lift families across the FCT and beyond.

Delivering a keynote address and officially declaring the summit open, a Deputy Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Yua Paul Mkuma, urged the cooperative to accelerate its growth and look beyond the borders of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The hour has come for external impact,” Mkuma stated, calling on KUDA to pilot mini-cooperatives across states like Benue to establish a resilient legacy of poverty alleviation and wealth co-creation.

Earlier, the President of KUDA in FCT, Emmanuel Haaga, highlighted the cooperative’s remarkable trajectory since its founding in September 2022, noting that the society’s active membership and dedicated shareholders are continuously driving innovative savings and loan programmes.

“While 2025 was about coming together, 2026 is about the quality of our impact,” Haaga noted

The summit featured high-level plenary sessions targeting critical societal segments with Dr Cletus Akwaya, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Asset Newspapers, leading discussions on “Empowering Vulnerable Groups through Cooperative Initiatives,” alongside panel members Amb. Jennifer Gbishe-Igoh and Dr Ngunan Beeka-Addingi.

A major highlight of the event focused on gender inclusion, with a presentation titled “Women in Cooperatives: Catalysts for Community Empowerment” delivered by Liz Kpam Ahua, a retired UNHCR Representative, and panelled by Caroline Ngohembe Asan, President of the National Assembly Tiv Cooperative Society.

The session emphasised breaking barriers such as digital exclusion and limited land rights to elevate female leadership.

In his goodwill message, the Initiator and former President of the cooperative, Pius Uganden, reminded participants of the cooperative’s founding “Vandeikya” core values—Visionary, Accountable, and Noble-minded.

He noted that the cooperative remains a safe ecosystem that transforms everyday earners into business owners.

The event also marked the official launch of the KUDA Lapel, as the leadership applauded the cooperative’s members’ unwavering commitment and financial discipline.