Lagos — National President of Co-operative Federation of Nigeria, Chief Adeola Ayoola, has enjoined the federal and state governments in the country to integrate co-operative entrepreneurship in the poverty reduction strategy in order for Nigerians to take advantage of co-operative societies. Ayoola, who made the appeal in Gombe, while delivering a speech at the 85th International Co-operative Day, noted that if this is achieved, it would create room for sustainable jobs through self reliance, especially since poverty and unemployment are on the prevalence in the country.

While lamenting the country's economy, Ayoola said Nigeria must take a cue from the developed and developing nations whose economies developed through strong active paticipation of private sector and a self reliance civil societies. Giving an account on the celebration of the International Day of Co-operatives, a day set aside by United Nations, he said it was aimed at promoting the co-operative movements and the ideals of international solidarity.

Delivering his speech at the occasion, Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, said an articulated programme of co-operative societies in the country would help in curbing the problems of unemployment and youth restiveness.

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, at the Government House, Mr. James Pisayih argued that, 75 per cent of Nigerians lived in therural areas, so if co-operative movements embrassed could help in job creation.

Earlier in his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Co-operative and Community Development, Alhaji Saidu Loddo said, the choice of Gombe to host this historic occasion is in recognition of the state government policy of improving the social-economic potentials of the people of the state.