Dr Lola Akande, Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives, says the Lagos State Government will harness the potential in the cooperative movement to create employment and eradicate poverty.

Akande said this at the beginning of a three-day strategic meeting of the Lagos State Cooperative College’s Governing Council with members of the Management team in Lagos on Monday.

The theme of the meeting is “Setting Agenda for Growth and Excellence”.

She said for the state cooperatives to thrive, development was necessary to help actualise the economic potential of the movement.

Akande said that the state government was doing its best to ensure that the sector had the necessary skilled manpower to harness the economic potential of the movement.

According to her, the Cooperative movement possesses the potential for more economic sustenance if well developed and better managed.

“This government is aimed at harnessing its potential to create employment, eradicate poverty and boost socio-economic growth.

“Hence, the government in developing and fortifying the sector has presented before the House of Assembly, a bill that would address all forms of sharp practices when passed into law,” she said

The commissioner urged the Cooperative College to develop an additional pragmatic policy framework for the development of the college.

Akande noted that this was important to develop a developmental working document for the institution.

She said: “This meeting presents a perfect opportunity to set a roadmap for the development of the Cooperative Movement which has been one major financial haven for the informal sector.

“It is also an integral part of the state’s economy that keeps a significant number of the populace in employment.”

She, therefore, enjoined the governing council and the management team to develop a more robust, realistic and pragmatic policy framework for the college in attaining the set goals.

Akande said that the success in achieving the cooperative’s mandates was part of a collective action, which left them with no option than to contribute their quota in attaining its objective.

Earlier, Mr. Oladele Ajayi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, said that he was sure that the college would be able to deliver on its mandate.

“Going by the conglomeration of policy drivers that abound in the college,” he said.

Ajayi assured the institution of political support that would be needed to achieve success.

“On our part as political office holders, we will use our good offices to pursue the realisation of the college’s mandates as spelled out in its enabling law.

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“We will complement your effort in positioning the college on the path of growth, development, and excellence,” he said

Earlier, Mr. Wale Oyebode, Chairman of the Governing Council, said that the essence of the meeting was to develop, formulate and prepare an encompassing policy document.

Oyebode said this would kick-start methodological progress in the life of the institution that would further drive activities at achieving the vision of the college.

He added that the Cooperative College had commenced a steady growth into its main objective of delivering knowledge in the areas of Cooperative Studies and Management.

“This will make available adequate skilled manpower for cooperative movement,” he said.

Oyebode appealed to all and sundry to support the college in achieving success in its mandates.