Co-operatives of the South West Region met in kumba on July 27, 2014 to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives, a yearly event declared by the United Nations (UN).

The day which was celebrated under the theme “Co-operative Enterprises Achieve Sustainable Development for All”, the aim is to promote awareness of cooperatives and increase the movement’s successes and ideals of solidarity, economic, efficiency, equality and world peace.

Presiding at the ceremony, the first Assistant SDO for Meme, Madam, Epolewane Verklin Mbua, thanked the United Nations for creating the International day for cooperatives. She told the co-operators it is now time for them to sit and reflect on their activities to see what they have done and what they have failed to do, adding that they should also use the theme of this year’s celebration to guide themselves.

Addressing the co-operators earlier, the representative of the Regional delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development, reminded them that a co-operative is an association of persons usually of limited means who have voluntary joined together, to achieve a common economic, social or cultural end through a formation of democratically controlled business organization, making equitable contributions to the capital and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking.

He said as co-operatives, there are certain principles to which all must adhere which includes, open and voluntary membership, democratic control by the co-operators, economic participation by the co-operators, autonomy and independence, education training and information, co-operation between cooperatives and voluntary commitment to community etc.

According to the Regional Delegate, Fowang Lawrence, the law laid down by which some limited ways such as authenticating their status, reduced taxes, grant of subsidies and guarantees provision to train staff, consultants and supervisors.

In the message of the International cooperatives Alliance, one of its goals of the blue print for a cooperative decade is to “Position co-operatives as builders of Sustainability.”

Reasons why the co-operative sector needs to explain and show to the world that sustainability is part of its intrinsic nature and that cooperatives enterprise make a positive contribution to sustainability.

Present amongst others was the president of the South West Farmers Cooperative Union, Esapa Patrick, who played host for celebration.

Over 30 cooperatives were represented at the ceremony. Traditional dances grape the event, while at the end of the day the 1st Assistant SDO went round to visit some exhibition stands.