Despite challenges, Rivers Cooperative federation eyes 30% contribution to state’s GDP
The Rivers Cooperative Federation, umbrella body of over 35,000 registered societies, has intensified efforts to achieve a 30% contribution to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The 30% mark aligns with a national average projection for cooperatives by the federal Ministry of of Agriculture and Rural Development. The ministry based its calculation on improvements in agricultural, fishery, and other cooperative enterprises.
Brilliant Amadi, President of the Rivers Cooperative Federation, however pointed out that for Rivers State, this would mean contributing 30% of the state’s GDP placed at over $28.4 billion in 2024.
Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State governor had described the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the second largest in the country, ranks among the top 25 economies in Africa, and comparable to countries like Botswana, Rwanda, and Gabon.
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Sectoral analysis however showed the petroleum and natural gas industry making the largest contribution to the Rivers GDP due to extensive oil and gas reserves, followed by construction, trade, manufacturing, electricity/gas supply, and transport services as key contributors.
Amadi, President of the Rivers Cooperative Federation, while addressing delegates at the federation’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Port Harcourt on Friday October 31, 2025, said despite challenges, the cooperative movement in the state is poised to raise its contributions to the GDP to the projected 30%.
He said cooperatives are the closest form of business enterprise to the grassroots and a huge employer of labour, adding that globally, cooperatives generate trillions of dollars in annual turnover, while playing a crucial role in reducing poverty and promoting economic growth.
Part of the initiatives at boosting the Rivers GDP, Amadi said, lies in intensive investment in agriculture, modern and mechanised farming, towards achieving food security for the state and country.
He said “Predominantly in Niger Delta, oil and gas is what thrives. Agriculture has taken the back seat. We can’t even talk of mechanized farms in Rivers State? People are only interested in filling stations, building filling stations, building hotels, oil and gas and all that and all that. What about agriculture?
“Today, we are talking about food insufficiency In Nigeria. Agriculture is a big business today. So, for us in Rivers Cooperative Federation, we are not talking about oil and gas, our focus is on agriculture.
“Our focus is on agriculture because we know that we can create jobs, thousands of jobs using agriculture. We can create wealth in Rivers State using agriculture, especially deploying modern and digital Innovations in farming,” he said.
Amadi agreed that subsistence farming can not produce meaningful contribution to the GDP, while calling for government intervention in the area of funding for cooperatives.
He said the cooperative movement can “contribute massively in the area of agriculture in Rivers State. We are saying please come and partner with us. We have ideas, we have the human capital we have people to farm, all we need is for government to encourage us.
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Amadi said one area of support is the provision of funds for on-lending to cooperators engaged in agriculture and other meaningful ventures, as well as the creation of cooperative hubs in the state.
Reports indicate that despite challenges cooperatives, particularly in agriculture and fisheries, contribute to economic activities by enhancing production, providing credit to members and improving overall sectoral performance.
