News and Events

Cooperative Spirit: Evergreen Cooperative Unveils Plans for Financial Inclusion and Empowerment

4th September 2024
 
We are thrilled to announce that Evergreen Cooperative Society has officially launched its operations, marking a significant milestone in our journey to promote financial inclusion and empowerment for individuals and communities.
 
During our inaugural event, our leadership outlined our vision to provide access to affordable financial services, business financing, and economic opportunities, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and low-income individuals.
 
Key Highlights:
 
– Affordable loans and savings schemes to support financial stability and growth
– Business financing and mentorship programs to empower entrepreneurs and SMEs
– Financial literacy and education initiatives to promote economic awareness
– Strategic partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders to amplify our impact
 
Quote from our President:
 
“At Evergreen Cooperative, we believe that financial freedom and economic growth should be within reach of everyone. Our cooperative spirit is built on the principles of mutual support, trust, and collective action. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey and be part of a movement that can transform lives and communities.”
 
Stay Updated:
 
Follow us for regular updates on our news and events space. We will be sharing stories of impact, new initiatives, and opportunities for our members and stakeholders.
 
Get Involved:
 
Join our cooperative today and be part of a community that is shaping the future of financial inclusion and empowerment. Contact us to learn more about membership benefits and how to get involved.
 
Let’s build a brighter financial future together!
 
 
 
 
 

Aluminium Fabricators’ Cooperative Commissions ₦200 Million Storage and Distribution Facility

Thursday, 6th August 2026

The Aluminium Fabricators’ Cooperative has officially commissioned a ₦200 million Storage and Distribution Facility at Aluminium Village, Dopemu, Agege, Lagos, marking a major step toward strengthening the aluminium fabrication value chain and supporting local fabricators and allied businesses.

The project was delivered through collaboration involving Agege Local Government, the Aluminium Engineers Cooperative, SMEDAN, and Evergreen Cooperative Society, with support from financial and corporate partners.

The commissioning brought together government representatives, cooperative leaders, market stakeholders, financial institutions, corporate partners, and industry players, who emphasized the importance of collaboration, improved infrastructure, and access to finance and technology in driving sustainable industrial growth.

The facility is expected to improve storage capacity, streamline distribution, reduce supply-chain costs, and support the productivity and growth of local fabricators.

WELCOME ADDRESS

A key highlight of the event was the welcome address delivered by Abdulazeez Olawale, President of Evergreen Cooperative Society and Executive Director of Nova Solutions Limited.

In his address, Olawale presented the facility as more than a storage centre, describing it as a strategic platform for transforming the aluminium fabrication industry and moving local artisans toward professional aluminium engineering.

He highlighted the cooperative’s plans to strengthen bulk purchasing and distribution, introduce modern CNC technology, provide continuous technical training, and create greater access to standardized materials for fabricators.

Olawale also called for stronger partnerships with government institutions, financial organizations, and private-sector developers, emphasizing that the cooperative is ready to scale and participate more directly in major construction and development projects.

“This ₦200 Million Facility is not just a warehouse; it is our control tower.”

The full welcome address is presented below as part of the event record.

FULL WELCOME ADDRESS

WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ABDULAZEEZ OLAWALE, PRESIDENT OF EVERGREEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NOVA SOLUTIONS LIMITED, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE ₦200M ALUMINIUM FABRICATORS COOPERATIVE STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION FACILITY

Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2026
Venue: Aluminium Village, Dopemu, Agege, Lagos State

PROTOCOL

  • Our Chief Host, the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government,

  • Our Chief Launcher, the Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN),

  • The Director of Cooperative, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Lagos State,

  • The Management of the FundQuest Finnance Company Limited,

  • Dr Mrs, Ogundimu, The General Manager, Institutional Banking ProvidusUnity Bank

  • Executive Leadership of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF),

  • Chief Mrs, Abisola Isokoei, Iyaloja Computer Village

  • Esteemed Market Leaders, the Board of Trustees, President, Executive Council, and Members of APGAR, Iyaloja and Babaloja

  • Esteemed Guests, Partners, Captains of Industry, and my fellow Great Fabricators and Artisans,

INTRODUCTION & WELCOME

On behalf of the Executive Board, trustees, and the entire membership of Evergreen Cooperative Society, it is my singular honor and privilege to welcome you all to this historic occasion: the official operational commissioning of our ₦200 Million Aluminium Fabricators Cooperative Storage & Distribution Facility.

Standing here today in Aluminium Village, Dopemu, Agege the largest aluminium market hub in West Africa. We are not just opening a warehouse. We are opening a new chapter in the economic history of technical trade, manufacturing, and artisan empowerment in Nigeria.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I must express our profound gratitude to our Chief Host, the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government, HON, Abdulganiyu Vinod Obabsa for his unwavering support of this initiative and for fostering grassroots business growth in this vibrant community of Agege.

I extend our deep appreciation to our Chief Launcher, the Director General of SMEDAN, Dr. Charles Odii, for your visionary leadership, your commitment to the MSME community in Nigeria, and the untiring support of the entire Lagos State SMEDAN team. Most especially, I want to recognize Dr. Olubunmi Kole Dawodu for his exceptional guidance and support since 2024, when we first conceived this vision.

We are equally pleased to recognize the presence of Dr. Mrs Abosede Ogundimu, General Manager Institutional Banking at ProvidusUnity Bank, who honors us with her presence today. Thank you for your steadfast support and financial partnership since 2024.

To our financial partners at FundQuest Financial Services Limited, thank you for believing in the capacity of micro and small enterprises to drive national industrialization. Likewise, to the executive leadership at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), thank you for your unwavering support and partnership over the years.

To our corporate partners, such as Legrande Properties Development Company Limited, whose patronage across landmark projects has proven that local fabricators can execute to the highest international standards; we say thank you.

Permit me to specially recognize and appreciate Mr. Seye Oyetade, Managing Director of Invest Nigeria. Your untiring support, counsel, and efforts to make this dream a reality are deeply appreciated. Quite simply, we would not have achieved this historic milestone without your steadfast backing. On behalf of all our members, we say a big thank you!

My special tribute goes to our respected market leadership, most notably the BOT Chairman of APGAR, Alhaji B. N. O. Salami (Bolkas), for maintaining peace, stability, and structure in this market, and the APGAR President, Alhaji Tajudeen Awojobi, for his tireless support of our fabricators from day one.

THE STRATEGIC VISION: FROM FABRICATORS TO ALUMINIUM ENGINEERS

Distinguished guests, for decades, our local artisans have been trapped at the bottom of the value chain. Skilled hands worked long hours in fabrication shops, while foreign importers and trade intermediaries captured the most lucrative procurement, distribution, and commercial margins.

We were labeled mere “fabricators” or “hand-workers”; despite designing and building complex structural envelope systems for skyscrapers, residential estates, and industrial complexes.

Today, we rewrite that story.

This ₦200 Million Facility is not just a warehouse; it is our control tower.

By centralizing distribution and mastering the supply chain, we are rebuilding the entire aluminium industry from the ground up:

  • Controlling the Trade: By buying in bulk directly from primary manufacturers, we eliminate middle-man inflation, stabilize market prices, and secure essential raw materials for over 1,000 active fabricators.

  • Elevating the Craft to Real Engineering: Beyond centralizing raw materials, this initiative drives total technical transformation. Our primary goal is to establish this common facility, equip it with state-of-the-art CNC machinery, and execute continuous retraining and upskilling programs for our members. Access to modern automated technology and standardized high-grade profiles allows us to transition from basic manual fabrication into full-scale Aluminium Engineering; delivering mathematical precision, structural durability, and world-class excellence on every project.

  • Retaining Local Wealth: By integrating raw material supply chain management with specialized technical execution, we maximize local value retention, foster sustainable industry growth, and drive long term technical employment for our local youth.

A CALL FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP

To our government leaders, development banks, and corporate developers here today: we are ready for scale.

Through our structured cooperative framework, we have built a transparent, bankable, and highly disciplined network of technical professionals. We invite state housing boards, private real estate giants, and funding institutions to partner with us directly as off-takers and supply chain partners.

CONCLUSION

To my fellow fabricators and cooperative members: this victory belongs to all of us. Today proves what happens when artisans unite under vision, structure, and cooperative spirit.

Once again, I welcome our Executive Chairman, the DG of SMEDAN, professional dignitaries, our market elders, and all distinguished guests. Thank you for making out time to honor us today.

God bless Agege Local Government!

God bless Lagos State!

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Welcome! E kaabo!

Highlight: The event footage features the newly commissioned facility, a display marking the ₦200 million investment, and interviews with key participants and partners.

Featured video: Footage coverage from TVC News and The Speech from the President of the Evergreen Cooperative Society is provided below.

MEDIA & EVENT HIGHLIGHTS