By Ebikiseiye Thompson, Abuja
The National Apex of Nigerian Farmers Cooperative Societies, NANFACOS, has elected a candidate from Abia State, Chief Nwogwugwu Uzoma, as President of the organization.
The election was held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, which also produced Mallam Mohammed Kuyizhi as National Secretary of the organisation.
Chief Uzoma who represented the Abia States Apex Farmers Cooperative Societies emerged the elected National President of the body.
Already Uzoma and his executive have paid a courtesy visit to Bank of Agriculture, BoA, Kaduna, and then proceeded to the palace of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, where he (Uzoma) presented his manifesto and agenda of the Cooperative to the Royal father.
It is interesting to know that NANFACOS is to create business linkages for farmer cooperatives across the country; unite the entire farmers’ cooperatives under one umbrella; to seek the welfare of affiliates; sourcing fund and agric input, materials and pieces of machinery locally and internationally in order to enable them to operate, produce and be self-reliant; to create wealth for member farmer cooperatives, improve the Nigerian economy; reduce hunger and unemployment.
Also, the organization is to work towards placing the nation’s agricultural sector ahead of others in the continent in terms of agribusiness in partnership with the Federal Department of Cooperatives in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, a source for improved seedlings to achieve bumper harvest.
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Part of NANFACOS’ mandate is to render extensive services to members whereby they access modern and emerging techniques of farming to meet their needs and aspirations; work with local and international financial agencies/institutions in accessing loans and grants for members.
While commending their members for a peaceful election, Chief Uzoma said their aim would be to ensure that food is on the table of all Nigerian regards its abundance and security, to unite all cooperative farmers to speak with one voice.
“To work towards the assessment of loan from National and International Funding agencies and financial institution for the Nigerian affiliates in Agric business, as NANFACOS shall work according to cooperative principles and methods of lending and recoveries.
“To make sure that most Agricultural inputs and pieces of machinery are accesses/purchased in a subsidized rate by the federal government, most importantly to create a platform where the federal government will work in synergy with NANFACOS, creating special programs for the teaming members regards that the development of any society must e private driving stuff”, he said.
