In a major step towards empowering small businesses and the cooperative sector across Nigeria and Africa, Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Society is set to officially launch the $5 billion AssuredInvest™ Cooperative Trust Fund on July 19, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The initiative was unveiled by Mr. Benjamin Aduli, Chief Visionary Officer and President of Maistrade, during a press briefing in Abuja. He described the fund as a transformational financial vehicle designed to serve the real, verified needs of cooperative members, ranging from farmers and artisans to entrepreneurs and youth groups.
“This is not just another fund. It is a movement; a bold declaration that cooperative capital, when properly structured, transparently governed, and purposefully deployed, can unlock the full economic potential of our people, our farmlands, our small businesses, and our national future,” Aduli stated.
Aduli lamented the historical underutilisation of Nigeria’s cooperative sector, noting that cooperatives have long been neglected, underfinanced, and underestimated. The AssuredInvest™ Fund aims to change that narrative by moving the sector from the margins to the mainstream of Nigeria’s development strategy.
Unlike traditional financing models, the fund is demand-driven. It responds to verified cooperative demand rather than pushing unsolicited capital into the market.
“It is tailored to the real, structured needs of cooperative members, whether that’s a rice farmer in Lokoja, a housing cooperative in Enugu, an MSME cluster in Kaduna, or a youth cooperative in Abeokuta,” Aduli added.
- Backed by Institutional Capital: The fund draws support from major financial institutions and is structured to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Governed by Cooperative Law: Unlike typical funds regulated by securities law, AssuredInvest™ operates under cooperative legal frameworks, giving members greater ownership and accountability.
- Targeted Use-Cases: The fund is focused on critical economic sectors including food production, mechanisation, affordable housing, education, clean energy, and digital inclusion.
- Exclusive to Cooperative Members: It is not a public investment scheme, but a secured cooperative financing model, created by members, for members, and through members.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Esther Audu, a partner and stakeholder in Maistrade, described the AssuredInvest™ Fund as a milestone for the cooperative movement in Africa.
“The AssuredInvest™ Fund is the first of its kind in Africa, a demand-driven fund, not a supply-driven one. It does not push capital into speculative programs; rather, it responds to verified cooperative demand and needs, ensuring that every kobo mobilized directly impacts real people, real enterprises, and real communities.”
She emphasized that the fund is built on shared risk, shared return, and a shared vision, rooted in cooperative values and structured to support inclusive, sustainable economic development.
The launch comes just weeks after the International Day of Cooperatives, celebrated annually on the first Saturday in July. The 2025 theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” highlights the global role of cooperatives in promoting equity, democracy, solidarity, and economic empowerment.
Maistrade’s AssuredInvest™ Fund aligns with this vision by providing structured financial tools to unlock Africa’s cooperative and MSME potential, foster grassroots economic resilience, and support sustainable livelihoods.
