The Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has officially launched its first Cooperative Society and inaugurated distinguished personalities as trustees, in a landmark move aimed at enhancing the welfare and financial stability of its members.
The unveiling ceremony, held on Saturday at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano, also featured the launch of the Chapel’s maiden Ramadan food distribution program for its members.
Trustees include Associate Professor Sule Ya’u Sule, the Kano Governor’s Spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Mai Mota.
Speaking at the ceremony held on Saturday at the Press centre, Former Chairman of the NUJ Kano State Council and National Trustee, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, traced the history of cooperative movements in Nigeria, describing them as deeply rooted in the country’s economic and cultural development.
Ibrahim cited examples of cooperative models across regions and professional bodies, including trade unions and public service associations.
He advised the Chapel not to rely solely on salary deductions from members but to embrace sound financial management and proper record keeping to ensure sustainability.
He commended the leadership for the initiative and called for adequate sensitisation of members on cooperative principles.
The Kano State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Shehu Sagagi, represented by the Director of Cooperatives in the ministry, Najib Dahiru Alkali, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting cooperative societies as reliable vehicles for grassroots economic development.
He stated that the present administration remains committed to transparency, accountability, capacity building, and adherence to cooperative laws, adding that compliance with legal frameworks would guarantee positive outcomes.
He urged members to remain united and assured them of continued government support.
Chairman of the Cooperative Trustees, Associate Professor Sule Ya’u Sule, commended the current executive of the Chapel for various welfare-driven initiatives, including tea breaks, retreats, and other programs aimed at improving members’ wellbeing.
He expressed confidence that the cooperative would help address financial challenges faced by members and reduce ethical pressures in the profession.
He called on stakeholders, philanthropists, and well-meaning individuals in Kano to support the initiative and pledged to ensure its success.
The NUJ Chairman Suleiman Dederi, represented by his Vice Mustapha Gambo Muhammad, praised the Chapel’s leadership for fulfilling campaign promises and introducing impactful programs.
He urged members to support the leadership to sustain the momentum and strengthen the union.
In his address, Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Murtala Adewale, described the unveiling as a historic turning point for the Chapel.
He said the cooperative idea was conceived during the leadership’s manifesto presentation in July 2025 and nurtured into reality through collective efforts.
He disclosed that the Kano State Government provided a seed fund of N10 million to support the initiative, expressing appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other key officials for their support.
According to him, the cooperative is structured to promote a savings culture, provide access to soft loans and support members during financial challenges, guided by the core values of transparency, accountability, and trust.
He further revealed that about N3 million had been earmarked from the cooperative fund for the procurement and distribution of Ramadan food items, with each member eligible to access up to N100,000 worth of food items or a combination of food and cash support under flexible repayment terms.
“A financially secure journalist is more confident and independent. When there is no food on our table, the tendency to compromise increases while productivity declines,” he said.
In his vote of thanks, Malam Abdullahi Malam described the initiative as timely and commendable, expressing optimism that it would significantly reduce hardship among members.
Other stakeholders, including veteran journalist Bashir Mohammed, commended the Chapel’s leadership for what they described as visionary and impactful initiatives.
