The Federal government has inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), 2025–2030, to ensure that the vision of the programme is translated into measurable outcomes across the federation

Speaking during the Inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry’s Conference Room, in Abuja , the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stated that the National Steering Committee will serve as the apex coordinating and policy-guiding body for the RH-CRRP.

The Minister mentioned that the NSC would focus on strengthening cooperative governance and institutions, Driving nationwide cooperative sector digitalization 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 cooperative financing mechanisms, promote agricultural value chains through Farmers Producer Cooperative Organizations (FPCOs) and Comparative Cooperative Farms (CCFs), Supporting youth, women, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups through targeted cooperative empowerment initiatives.

They will aid the modernizing the legal and regulatory framework governing cooperatives in Nigeria and Establishing a robust monitoring, evaluation, and accountability framework for sustainable impact.

He charged members ‘to approach the assignment with patriotism, professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to national development and to work collaboratively, provide strategic leadership as well as ensure stakeholder engagement, monitor implementation rigorously, and support the realization of the objectives of the Programme’’.

He added ‘’ the success of the RH-CRRP will not be measured by the number of meetings held or reports produced. It will be measured by the number of cooperatives strengthened, farmers empowered, jobs created, enterprises established, citizens financially included, and communities transformed’’.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in 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 Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP)’’.

He pointed out that the Committee would provide strategic leadership and oversight for the successful implementation of the RH-CRRP in the country

During his welcome address, the Director, Federal Department of Cooperative, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkadir stated that ‘’ the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, through the Federal Department of Cooperatives, under the leadership of the Minister, developed the RH-CRRP as a comprehensive reform framework aimed at transforming the cooperative ecosystem and positioning cooperatives as strategic engines of inclusive economic growth, food security, rural development, and national prosperity’’

The Committee is chaired by the Hon. Minister of State and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs and comprises representatives from
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.