By: Chidiebere Akalawu
The Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University yesterday, joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s 102nd International Cooperative Day and the 30th UN International Day of Cooperative with the theme: Cooperative Build a better future for all.
The Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Joseph Ikechebelu ably represented by Prof Ezimma Nnabuife while declaring the event open, asserted that a cooperative society is a voluntary coming together of individuals whose aim is to pool resources to pursue a mutual economic interests.
The Acting Vice Chancellor in his address informed that climate change is a veritable threat to sustainable development that needs to be checked by curbing human actions that precipitate global warming or minimise the negative impacts through appropriate adaptations.
Also in her address, Dr Nkechi Ojiagu the head of department, Cooperative Economics and Management opined that the International Cooperative Day is an excellent opportunity to emphasize that cooperatives build a better future for all. She noted that cooperatives prioritise people, create decent jobs, uphold gender equality, foster resilience, reduce income inequalities and develop a direct path towards environmental matters.
Adding to her views, Mr Christian Udechukwu, the Honourable Commissioner for Industry, Anambra State praised Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo for his clean and green initiative which aims at planting economic trees around Anambra State and thus contribute in solving the climatic challenges of the farmers and also help in the elimination of poverty in the State.
The guest Speaker Prof Chinedu Agbodike while addressing the students opined that a healthy State is a wealthy State and urged all to engage in farming as a way to eliminate poverty across the nation. In his words, poverty is a thing of the mind and God when he created man, placed him in the garden as his means of survival.
Prof Tessy Anigbogu, Chairman planning Committee in her vote of thanks, appreciated the Acting Vice Chancellor for his blessings that gave birth to the success of the event. She thanked the guest Speaker, the State Commissioner for industry and other dignitaries that graced the occasion and asked for God’s blessings upon them.
Highlights of the event include a health walk round the University, exhibition of locally manufactured products, lectures, questions and answers session among many others.