2025 UN International Day Of Cooperatives: Belgium Embassy In Nigeria Endorses CODEC-Cooperative Diplomacy and Economic Citizenship Initiative


 


In a landmark diplomatic development for global cooperative enterprise diplomacy, His Excellency, Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, has graciously endorsed the establishment of the Cooperative Diplomacy and Economic Citizenship Initiative (CODEC) and welcomed CODEC’s strategic intent to establish its international diplomatic secretariat in Brussels, home to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the global cooperative movement.

 In a statement Issued by: Dr. Lugard Okonobo, CODEC, Special Envoy – Diplomatic Relations, it stated that, "CODEC’s Cooperative Diplomat and Principal Envoy Dr. Peter Ayim, expressed appreciation for Ambassador Leenknegt’s visionary leadership and commitment to cooperative diplomacy, affirming that the endorsement of CODEC as a global cooperative diplomacy and economic citizenship platform would accelerate CODEC’s global partnerships and cooperative enterprise diplomacy and citizenship economic advocacy programmes globally.

 "CODEC is anchored on the universal cooperative identity, values, and principles, and strategically aligned with the commemoration of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025 in alignment with the Year 2025 International Day of Cooperatives globally celebrated on the first Saturday of July every year.

"On 19 June 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives hence the need for UN Member States to domesticate this agenda through institutional mechanism such as the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)-global institutional body coordinating cooperatives activities.

"The ICA Headquartered in Brussels-Belgium has announced the official theme for the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay): “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World.” to be celebrated on Saturday, 5 July 2025.*

In her press release, the ICA stated that this year’s CoopsDay will serve as a flagship moment within the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025)—a once-in-a-decade opportunity to spotlight the critical role of cooperatives in building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

The diplomatic endorsement marks a significant milestone for CODEC’s global positioning as it moves to secure formal international legal status as an Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL) in Belgium, providing it with global operational legitimacy and access to multilateral cooperative development platforms.

Speaking during a recent diplomatic briefing with CODEC’s Principal Envoy Dr. Peter Ayim and his Delegation, Ambassador Leenknegt commended the initiative’s vision and reaffirmed Belgium’s longstanding leadership in cooperative development diplomacy. He welcomed CODEC’s strategic intent to establish its international diplomatic secretariat in Brussels, home to the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and the global cooperative movement.

 According to the Belgian Ambassador, “The cooperative model remains one of the world’s most effective mechanisms for fostering inclusive prosperity, economic resilience, and people-centered development. Belgium is pleased to support visionary initiatives like CODEC that seek to use cooperative diplomacy as a tool for sustainable livelihoods and international peace,” Ambassador Leenknegt stated.

 The endorsement marks a significant milestone for CODEC’s global positioning as it moves to secure formal international legal status as an Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL) in Belgium, providing it with global operational legitimacy and access to multilateral cooperative development platforms.

Dr. Peter Ayim, the Founder and Principal Envoy of CODEC, expressed deep appreciation for Ambassador Leenknegt’s visionary leadership and commitment to cooperative diplomacy, affirming that the endorsement would accelerate CODEC’s global partnerships and enterprise diplomacy programmes.

 Contributing, CODEC’s Special Envoy on Diplomatic Relations, Dr. Lugard Okonobo stated that this endorsement signals to the world that cooperative diplomacy is rising as a credible, people-centered alternative for inclusive prosperity and that CODEC is poised to mobilize governments, cooperatives, and diplomatic missions worldwide in building cooperative enterprise economies that prioritize people, planet, and peace.

 CODEC will be formally launched at an High Level Diplomatic Roundtable as part of activities commemorating the UN’s declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, under the global theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World” and the 2025 International Day of Cooperatives scheduled to hold on July 8, 2025 at the official residence of the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria.The statement reads.

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