Adeleke commissions rehabilitated Cooperative College, renames school after late Isiaka Adeleke

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has commissioned the rehabilitated Cooperative College, Ode-Omu after 12 years of abandonment by past governments.

However, in a move to honor the legacy of the founder, the Governor renamed the college as Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Cooperative College.

Speaking at the commissioning of the college, Adeleke also announced that the college in partnership with the Osun State University should start running a degree programme.

He said the institution has produced over 2,500 graduates, many of whom now occupy vital positions in the state and national economy.

According to Adeleke, “It was an unfortunate recollection to note that the College was neglected for 12 years between 2010 and 2023 by the former APC administrations. The sad situation robbed the state and the grassroots economy of vital capacity building platforms and opportunities. The neglect contributed to the slow down of the Cooperative movement due to manpower issues among others.

“Our administration devoted attention to the cooperative movement because it provides direct access to financing at the grassroots level. The mechanism ensures collective exchange of contributory funds. This platform helps to build many local businesses and support the artisans and market men and women.

“It was in realisation of the importance of the cooperative movement that our administration has injected one billion naira revolving loan into the cooperatives movement. Five Hundred Million Naira was extended to the conventional Cooperatives under the Federation of Osun State Cooperatives Limited (FOSCOOP). Another Five Hundred Million Naira was disbursed to 370 Ward-Based Cooperative Societies.

“As at today, a total of 146 Cooperative Societies have benefited from the FOSCOOP loan while we have recorded 18,000 individual beneficiaries from the ward-based cooperatives. Before the end of the year, more funds are already available for disbursement to the cooperative movement.”