Gov. Abiodun Plans ND, HND Upgrade for Ogun Cooperative College, Cites ₦1bn Business Loans
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced plans to upgrade the Ogun State Cooperative College to offer National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, while disclosing that his administration has disbursed over ₦1 billion in loans to cooperative societies and small business owners.
Abiodun made this known on Wednesday at the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives celebration in Ijebu-Ode, organised by the Ogun State Cooperative Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives.
He said the planned upgrade would strengthen the college’s infrastructure and academic capacity, equipping professionals with the skills needed to manage cooperative institutions effectively.
The governor disclosed that over ₦500 million had been disbursed to cooperative societies through the state’s revolving loan scheme, while another ₦500 million was provided under the Oko ‘Owo’ Irinse Dapo Soft Loan Initiative to support artisans, traders and small business owners across the state’s 20 local government areas.
He also pledged to provide land for cooperative societies to embark on agricultural production and housing projects, describing the initiative as a means of promoting food security, affordable housing and economic opportunities.
Abiodun urged cooperative members to embrace accountability, unity and sustainable business practices to ensure that government interventions achieved their intended objectives.
He further highlighted the economic prospects of Ogun East, citing crude oil discoveries in Ogun Waterside, Ijebu North-East and Odogbolu, as well as the proposed Ogun Deep Seaport, which he said would attract investments and create employment opportunities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Balogun, said Ogun State had approximately 14,700 registered cooperative organisations contributing to economic and social development.
Balogun commended the government’s financial support and urged beneficiaries to utilise the loans judiciously to expand their businesses.
Similarly, the President of the Ogun State Cooperative Federation, Alhaji Wasiu Olaleye, praised the ₦500 million revolving loan scheme and called for the upgrading of the Cooperative College at Shasha, Iperu-Remo, to offer ND and HND programmes.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by his Special Assistant on Cooperatives, Mr Victor Oyegoke, also commended the state government’s commitment to cooperative development.
He said the Federal Government was engaging cooperative societies to extend development initiatives to grassroots communities, particularly in agriculture and small-scale businesses.
