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A coalition of Nigerian investors has introduced a Cooperative Trust Fund valued at $5 billion, aimed at fostering and enhancing micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide, with the goal of stimulating swift economic development.
The initiative, announced in Abuja on Saturday, is led by the AssuredInvest™ Cooperative Trust Fund, a multifaceted financial entity designed to support grassroots businesses across various economic sectors.
During the launch, the main promoter, Benjamin Aduli, noted that the Fund is supported by institutional capital and regulated by cooperative law rather than securities law. He highlighted that the Fund is in alignment with the current administration’s economic development objectives.
“This Fund is propelled by specific cooperative applications—such as food production, mechanization, housing, education, clean energy, and digital access,” Aduli explained.
“It has the backing of both the government and relevant regulatory bodies to ensure it meets its goals.”
Aduli also mentioned that the Fund operates under the supervision of trustee banks, insurance underwriters, and cooperative federations.
Key partners in this initiative include the Cooperative Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN), National Agricultural Cooperative Organisation (NACO), Cooperative Housing Federation of Nigeria (COHFON), and Akilaah National Cooperative Federation (Akilaah).
“What distinguishes the AssuredInvest™ Fund as groundbreaking is its demand-responsive approach,” Aduli emphasized.
“Unlike conventional financing models that inundate the market with unrequested funds, this Fund only caters to verified cooperative needs.
Whether it involves a rice producer in Lokoja, a housing cooperative in Enugu, or an MSME cluster in Kaduna—this Fund addresses genuine, structured requirements.” Nathan Nwachukwu, CEO of Terra Industries, also spoke, revealing that his organization is collaborating with the Fund to implement drone services that will oversee agricultural operations.
“In the first phase, we are initiating surveillance over 40,000 hectares in Kogi State, safeguarding more than 20,000 rice farmers within the MAIS Cooperative network,” he stated.
“Our drones will deliver round-the-clock aerial monitoring, timely threat identification, data analysis, and situational awareness to enhance agricultural security.” Dr. Esther Audu, Chairperson of Women in Agriculture, commended the initiative as a groundbreaking advancement in cooperative financing across Africa.
“The AssuredInvest™ Trust Fund is the first demand-driven fund in Africa,” she remarked. “It avoids injecting funds into speculative endeavors. Every kobo is directed towards real individuals, actual businesses, and authentic communities. It is established on legal principles, built on trust, and motivated by a mission to elevate.”
She also praised the application of drone technology for farmland security, describing it as “a significant step forward for Nigeria’s agricultural future.”
“The launch of this surveillance system for 20,000 rice farmers in Kogi State is not only about protection—it is about integrating digital intelligence into our food systems. This represents the future, and Nigeria is at the forefront,” she concluded.
