INSTITUTE OF CO-OPERATIVE PROFESSIONALS OF NIGERIA: JOURNEY SO FAR.
The idea of having a professional body for co-operators was first muted by the lecturers of the Department of Co-operative Studies, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu in the 80s led by Dr. Enyeribe Onuoha (now the Traditional Ruler of Ihiteafoukwu Autonomous Community, Imo State) with the name Association of Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria (ACPN). Dr. Enyeribe was the pioneer National Coordinator. The first National Congress (National Conference) was scheduled for 22nd March 1989 at Enugu unfortunately it could not hold. At the rescheduled Congress which took place in Kaduna on the 26th of October 1989 the Body was formally inaugurated. The first set of National Executive officers elected at the Congress held at Ibadan in 1990 included Mr. J.N.P. Okonkwo, National President; Mr. Dave B. Oyelami, National Secretary and Mr. J. Buden, National Treasurer. This first National Executive was formally installed on the 12th of September 1991 at the Federal Secretariat Enugu. The Association had about three Congresses and seven National Executive meetings before it became moribund due mainly to hosting and incorporation problems. Chief Iyiola Oyedepo from Kwara State who was fully paid in 1995 to incorporate the Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) failed to do so only to come back in 1998 to inform the Association that he could not perform because he was duped by the 419 men.
Neither the National body nor the State Chapters were functional until 2002 when the reorganized Anambra State Chapter under the leadership of Mr. Emma Okechukwu pressured the National Officers to summon a National Executive Council meeting. The Chapter volunteered to host the meeting as its contribution towards the revival of the Association. The meeting which took place on the 29th of April 2002 was well attended by delegates from all parts of the Federation. Another NEC meeting was scheduled at Ibadan on the 6th of November 2003. In this meeting held at the NUT Co-operative Hall, Orogun, the Anambra State Chapter was given the mandate to ensure the incorporation of the Association and to amend the Constitution where necessary to make it more professional. In the same meeting too the Association had its name changed to Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria (COPRON) to give it a national out look. Though the meeting was poorly attended, paramount to us was that once again the Association has come back to life. At Kaduna on the 9th of November 2006, the Association came back to life fully and a new National Executive Officers were elected and sworn in. Since then the Body has been waxing stronger and stronger and making waves across the nation. National Executive Council meetings have been holding religiously every quarter of the year since then. The membership of the Association since the reactivation stands close to a thousand.
In order to keep pace with other professional bodies in Nigeria, the Body changed its name from Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria to Institute of Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria in an enlarged NEC meeting held on the 6th of December 2007 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Co-operative Building, Asaba, Delta State. On June 27th and 28th 2008, we had our first National Conference (replacing the National Congress) at the Federal Medical Centre C.T.C.S Hall, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta. It was a historic outing for the Institute, attendance was intimidating. We had our first Fellows of the Institute—the first National Coordinator, Eze Dr. Enyeribe Onuha; the first National President, Mr. J. N. P. Okonkwo; the first National Secretary, Mr. Dave B. Oyelami; and the first National Treasurer, Mr. J. Buden. There were also 50 Honourary Fellowships awarded to individuals and corporate organizations.
When it became very obvious that Chief Iyiola Oyedepo has failed in the bid to incorporate the Association, through the assistance of Mr. Emma Okechukwu, another lawyer Barr Jude Ezeamaka, was introduced to the Institute. This lawyer was able to decipher why the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Office of the Federal Director of Co-operatives can not incorporate the Association. We had a meeting with our lawyer and the Federal Director of Co-operatives on the 7th of April 2005. After some months, we were invited to another meeting by the Federal Director of Co-operatives, with the lawyer Barr Ezeamaka also in attendance. In that meeting held in the office of the then Deputy Director of Co-operatives, now the Director of Co-operatives with all his principal officers in attendance and presided over by him, it was made clear to us why the Federal Director of Co-operatives can not register the Association. He advised us to exploit the alternative option of going through the National Assembly. From then onwards we started working on our Bill. In 2010 the Bill went into the National Assembly through the unparallel magnanimity of Hon. A. A. Anas from Jigawa State. The Bill passed the 1st and 2nd reading within one month and we successfully defended it in the Public Hearing held at the National Assembly on the 27th of July 2010, in House Hearing Rm. 02. Soon after this the House went on recess and then to electioneering campaign and finally dissolved.
Now the House has reconvened and various Committees reconstituted, we are very optimistic that 2012 will not pass us by. We are here in Bauchi for the 2nd National Conference of the Institute and obviously it will mark a major turning point and break through in the history of this age old profession.
National President