The International Cooperative Alliance Africa Region has appointed Mr Oriyomi Ayeola as President.
Before his election, Ayeola was a board member of the alliance and president of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria.
According to a statement by the alliance, Ayeola was elected at the 8th Technical Committee of the Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference and the 15th Regional Assembly of ICA held virtually.
He succeeds Mr Japhet Magomere, who served from 2018 to 2021 and retired voluntarily.
The statement said Ayeola had proposed rigorous mobilisation of women and youths into the African cooperative movement through the provision of technical training and allied resources and capacitation of the national apex cooperatives in Africa through up-scaling of their potential.
It said he had also proposed increased involvement of the African cooperative movement in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement through synergies with relevant international development partners, among others.
According to the statement, as the president of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, Ayeola contributed to the development of cooperatives in Nigeria by creating an agricultural value chain with the establishment of cooperative staple foods.
It said he pioneered the establishment of cooperative insurance schemes, introduced LASCOFED connect to facilitate communication among cooperatives as well as undertaking housing projects and health programmes for members.
