The Federal Government has officially inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), covering the period 2025 to 2030. This initiative is designed to ensure that the programme's vision translates into tangible and measurable outcomes throughout the federation.
Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Ministry's Conference Room in Abuja. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, presided over the event. He emphasized that the NSC will serve as the apex coordinating and policy-guiding body for the RH-CRRP.
Key Focus Areas
The Minister outlined several critical areas of focus for the committee. These include strengthening cooperative governance and institutions, driving nationwide digitalization of the cooperative sector through the National Cooperative Smart Registry (NCSR), Cooperative Verification Number (CVN), and Cooperative Member Identification Number (CoopID). The committee will also facilitate the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and related financing mechanisms. Additionally, it will promote agricultural value chains through Farmers Producer Cooperative Organizations (FPCOs) and Comparative Cooperative Farms (CCFs). Support for youth, women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups through targeted cooperative empowerment initiatives is another priority. The committee will also work on modernizing the legal and regulatory framework governing cooperatives in Nigeria and establishing a robust monitoring, evaluation, and accountability framework for sustainable impact.
Minister's Charge
Senator Abdullahi charged committee members to approach their assignment with patriotism, professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to national development. He urged them to work collaboratively, provide strategic leadership, ensure stakeholder engagement, monitor implementation rigorously, and support the realization of the programme's objectives. He added that the success of the RH-CRRP will not be measured by the number of meetings held or reports produced, but by the number of cooperatives strengthened, farmers empowered, jobs created, enterprises established, citizens financially included, and communities transformed.
Permanent Secretary's Remarks
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, stated that the RH-CRRP National Steering Committee is established as the apex oversight, coordination, advisory, and policy-guidance body for the implementation of the programme. He pointed out that the committee would provide strategic leadership and oversight for the successful implementation of the RH-CRRP across the country.
Director's Welcome Address
During his welcome address, the Director of the Federal Department of Cooperatives, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkadir, explained that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the Federal Department of Cooperatives and under the leadership of the Minister, developed the RH-CRRP as a comprehensive reform framework. This framework aims to transform the cooperative ecosystem and position cooperatives as strategic engines of inclusive economic growth, food security, rural development, and national prosperity.
Committee Composition
The committee is chaired by the Honourable Minister of State and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs. It comprises representatives from the Federal Department of Cooperatives, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Interior, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), among others.
