The Kwara State Government has restated its commitment towards using Cooperative Societies to eradicating poverty in the society.

The state Commissioner for commerce and cooperatives, Alhaji Raji Mohammed gave the assurance while speaking at the golden jubilee celebration of Omowumi cooperative union and fund rasing towards the construction of vocational training centre by the union.

Alhaji Atolagbe explained that the state government would disburse its N500,000million micro credit loan through cooperative societies to make youths in the state self reliant. In his remark, a member representing Afon Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Hamidu-Giwa Afolabi who presided over the occasion appealed to the state government to support the informal sector like the Central bank of Nigeria to make them contribute more meaningfully to the growth of the economy.

Alhaji Afolabi who is the national president, association of non Bank Micro-Finance institutions of Nigeria noted that the informal sector contributed over seventy five percent of the growth of the economy of the state, pointing out that the component of the Institution was to provide access to financial services for micro enterprises and agricultural activities at the rural areas. He praised the state government for providing micro credit loan of five hundred million naira to cooperators in the state.

Also speaking the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari represented by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Durosinlorun Atiku, explained that the cooperative society had made significant impact among the down trodden and enjoined members to be more committed to further ensure that they are self reliant through Job creation.

In his key note address, the guest speaker at the occasion, Alhaji AbdulRauf Akogun who emphasized the significance of cooperative societies to the well being of state economy enjoined cooperators to be committed, non partisan and think of what to contribute to the development of the society.

Alhaji Akogun noted that only genuine members would make cooperative societies responsive to the contemporary socio economic challenges.

The President of the Kwara State Cooperative Federation, Elder Isaac Ogundele enjoined the Kwara State Government to always channel its micro credit loans through viable cooperative unions to ensure judicious use and prompt repayment of the loan.

Earlier, the President of Omowumi cooperative union, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, who enumerated the achievements of the union said it had diversified into distributorship, construction of hostels at KWASU to further make its impact felt by the society.

Alhaji Yusuf disclosed that the cooperative would soon embarked on the construction of a vocational centre in Ilorin to make youths in the state become job creators in the state.

The occasion also featured presentation of award to some members who exhibited exemplary conduct.