In a major step toward easing access to economic empowerment, the Akwa Ibom Bureau of Cooperatives and Rural Development has launched its much-anticipated Digital Cooperative Registration Portal.
The new system allows cooperative societies across the state to register online, eliminating long queues, complex paperwork, and unnecessary bottlenecks at the physical secretariat. This innovation marks a turning point in the Bureau’s drive toward transparency, accountability, and people-centered governance.
Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperatives and Rural Development, praised the move as a “transformative tool for grassroots inclusion,” noting that the portal will be pivotal in bringing unregistered cooperatives into the formal economy.
- Within the first 48 hours of launch, the portal recorded:
228 new cooperative applications
91 status follow-ups
54 requests for technical assistance
Registered users can now: - Submit their cooperative name, by-laws, and member profiles
- Upload required documents securely
- Receive status updates via email or SMS
- Download provisional registration certificates
This initiative is part of the Bureau’s broader e-governance push, which includes the digitization of training materials, resource portals, and community support applications.
“For years, many rural communities faced delays and exclusion due to manual registration processes. This digital system brings services closer to the people,” she said during the launch."
– Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong,
- What’s Next?
The Bureau has announced plans to:
Integrate the registration system with a cooperative funding dashboard
Link cooperative profiles to microfinance and grant databases
Offer webinars on navigating the new platform
📍 Highlights:
Online registration reduces processing time from 2 weeks to 3 days
Designed for both urban and remote users with mobile compatibility
Fully integrated with state cooperative regulations
