Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited has launched a \$5 billion trust fund to help improve food production and education in Nigeria.
The President and Chief Vision Officer, Benjamin Aduli, shared this news at a press conference in Abuja. He said the fund, called the AssuredInvest Cooperative Trust Fund, will support key areas like farming, housing, small businesses, education, clean energy, and digital access.
Aduli explained that if the fund is well-organized, transparent, and used wisely, it can help farmers, farmlands, and small businesses grow and reach their full potential.
He added that the fund is supported by big financial institutions. It follows cooperative laws and is focused on helping areas that directly impact people—like farming, housing, education, and energy.
This fund is more than just an investment,” Aduli said. “It’s a national movement. It gives millions of Nigerians a chance to improve their financial future using a safe and reliable cooperative system.”
Aduli criticized how cooperatives in Nigeria have been ignored and underfunded for years. He said this new fund marks a turning point—from being overlooked to being fully supported.
He said the special thing about the AssuredInvest Fund is that it is based on real demand.
“Unlike other funding systems that push money where it’s not needed,” he said, “this fund only responds to proven needs from cooperative groups.”
He explained that the fund is designed to meet the real needs of its members—whether it’s a rice farmer in Lokoja, a housing group in Enugu, a small business in Kaduna, or a youth group in Abeokuta.
He made it clear that this is not a government public investment program. It is a secure system created by cooperative members, for the benefit of other members.
Aduli said the fund will be managed openly, with the help of trusted banks, insurance companies, and major cooperative groups. These include the Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN), National Agricultural Cooperative Organisation (NACO), Cooperative Housing Federation of Nigeria (COHFON), and Akilaah National Cooperative Federation.
He also shared that in the coming weeks, the process to register qualified cooperative groups across the country will begin.
We are inviting all cooperative unions, groups, and networks to join the Maistrade platform, get the needed materials, and make the most of this historic chance,” he said.
