PLASCOFIED TRAINS COOPERATORS IN ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
PETER AZI – JOS
The Plateau State Cooperative Federation Ltd, PLASCOFIED, under the leadership of its President, *Mr. Dangwong Nathaniel Pam*, has engaged leaders of primary cooperative societies in a pre-World Cooperative Day leadership workshop.
The workshop, themed _“From Economic Participation to Economic Citizenship”_, was held at the APIN Hall of the Old Jos University Teaching Hospital.
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Speaking at the event, the Guest Speaker, *Dr. Peter Ayim*, President/Dean of Abuja Business School, said that according to World Bank statistics, over 140 million Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, 61% are underemployed, and inflation remains high.
According to him, cooperatives create ecosystems, jobs, and economic opportunities.
_“Only 300 of the top cooperative societies in the world generate over $2.7 trillion in turnover annually and create over 280 million jobs,”_ he said.
Dr. Ayim challenged the participants as leaders of their various primary cooperative societies: _“What will you be remembered for after leaving office? You need to act with innovation.”_
He added that many people do not understand the power of cooperatives.
_“Some people are poor while some are rich. People are rich because of their wisdom and mindset. Hence, there is a need to change our mindset,”_ he said.
He further stated that only 1% of the global population controls 99% of the world’s wealth because _“they are doing extraordinary things.”_
_“To survive in these harsh economic realities, cooperatives must create wealth and jobs. Wealth is an asset. Gone are the days when we gather money as cooperators and share it among ourselves for survival. That will only keep us poor. Cooperative societies give us the power and opportunity to do things quickly, rather than as individuals,”_ he said.
In his keynote address, PLASCOFIED President, *Mr. Dangwong Nathaniel Pam*, said cooperatives give ordinary people a voice and a sense of belonging.
_“When we harness common resources, we achieve more. Pooling resources to meet economic needs leads to responsible ownership of investments,”_ he said.
Delivering her goodwill message, the Director of Cooperatives from the Plateau State Ministry of Commerce, *Mrs. Elizabeth Bot*, described leaders of primary cooperative societies as the pillars of cooperatives in the state.
_“Cooperatives are growing faster than wildfire in Plateau State. That is why other states are emulating us. As leaders, you need to be patient and tolerant,”_ she said.
According to her, people in rural areas have ideas about cooperatives but lack the knowledge on how to go about them, especially in accessing loans from banks.
The event featured a questions and answers session where participants asked questions and made contributions.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 25TH 2026)
