‘We Are Change-Makers of Today’ – OGSCOFED Youth President Rallies Support for Youth Cooperatives

The President of OGSCOFED Youth Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Badejo Adeyemi, has called on Ogun youths to embrace the cooperative model as a driving force for leadership, innovation, and sustainable development. 

Speaking at the 2025 Ogun State Youth Cooperative Seminar on Wednesday, April 9, at the Oba K. O. Olubiyi Conference Hall in Abeokuta, Adeyemi emphasized that the youth must take the lead in shaping their futures through the cooperative movement.

“Today is more than a gathering; it is a movement of ideas, innovation, leadership, and transformation anchored in the spirit of cooperatives". 

“We are here because we believe that youths are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the change-makers of today", Adeyemi said. 

Reflecting on a global initiative, Adeyemi pointed out that the United Nations General Assembly's declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. He noted that the global theme, "Cooperatives Build a Better World," aligns with the local focus on youth engagement and empowerment through cooperative enterprises. 

“It emphasizes the power of cooperatives in fostering inclusive and prosperous societies—especially through youth engagement,” Adeyemi stressed. 

In his concluding remarks, Adeyemi called for further government support, urging the Ogun State Government to implement programs that would assist youth cooperatives, including grants and skill acquisition initiatives tailored to the needs of young entrepreneurs. “Investment in youth cooperatives is an investment in Ogun State’s economic future and community well-being,” he declared.

Mr. Ola Otinwa, President of Ike-Oluwa Sagamu Remo CMU Ltd., followed with his keynote address, emphasizing that cooperatives are not outdated institutions but revolutionary tools for creating sustainable futures. 

He shared success stories from Africa, such as Kenya’s Youth Bunge and South Africa’s Siyavuna Cooperative, demonstrating how youth cooperatives have become catalysts for job creation, food system improvements, and bridging the digital divide. 

“From Kenya to Rwanda and from Kaduna to Akure, young people are using cooperatives to create jobs and address local challenges,” Otinwa remarked.

On his part, Alhaji Abdulwasiu Olaleye, President of OGSCOFED Ltd., reinforced the call for Nigeria’s youth to take up cooperatives as a path to social and economic transformation. 

He described cooperatives as inclusive and democratic models of enterprise and stressed the importance of youth ownership in these initiatives. 

"Cooperatives remain one of the most inclusive and democratic models of enterprise. The youth must take ownership and shape it for their future,” Olaleye affirmed.

Mr. Abiodun Paul Okosulubo, President of OGSCOFED Staff CTCS Ltd., also lent his voice to the seminar, encouraging young participants to explore various cooperative models, including agricultural, financial, worker, and digital platform cooperatives. 

He identified the importance of cooperative values and leadership development as essential components for sustainable growth and long-term success in the cooperative movement.

The seminar provided participants with valuable insights into the cooperative model’s potential to address issues such as unemployment, poverty, and economic inequality.