ABSTRACT
The role of co-operate in the socio-economic development of any society cannot be over emphasized. Co-operative movement plays an important role in the socio-economic development of any state. In Nigeria, the impact of co-operative movement in the development of the economy has not been fully recognized. This contributed to the need for this research study, in socio-economic development of Ekwusigo Local Government Area. In this research study the major aim is to identify the contributions, future prospects, problems and recommendations for solving these problems.
Some
relevant literatures about co-operative organization on this research study
were reviewed. Data were then collected from Ekwusigo Local government Area in
Anambra state, through questionnaires and oral interview.
The
major recommendations are that co-operative business should be injected with
more capital to boost their business, proper education to the members for
effective management. The government should come to the aid of societies
through loans, grants and subsides, this will go a long way to improving the
members socio-economically.
With
this recommendation, co-operative organization can stand a better chance to
play a major role in socio-economic development of Ekwusigo Local Government
Area.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title i
Approval
Page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement
iv-v
Abstract vi-vii
Table
of Contents viii-x
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Background of the study 1-5
1.2 Statement of the problem 5
1.3 Objectives of the study 5-6
1.4 Research Questions 6-7
1.5 Research Hypothesis 7-8
1.6 The significance of the study 8
1.7 The scope of the study 9
1.8 Limitation of the study 10-11
1.9 Definition of terms 11-13
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review 14
2.1 Introduction 14-15
2.2 Cooperative Ethos and systems 15-17
2.3 Brief history of cooperative society 18-20
2.4 Organization of cooperative society 20-21
2.5 Social
and Economic viability in cooperative societies 22-24
2.6 The Relevance of
cooperative in Agricultural Development 25 – 27
2.7 The need for
cooperative in employment opportunities 27-28
2.8 The problem
facing Nigeria
cooperative
society
opportunity 28-30
2.9 The contributions of cooperative society in Nigeria. 30-32
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research methodology/introduction 33
3.1 Research Design 33
3.2 Population of the study/sample size 33-34
3.3 Source of data 34-35
3.4 Method of data Analysis 35-36
3.5 Validation of research instrument 36
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Presentation and analysis of data 37
4.1 Introduction 37
4.2 data presentation 37-64
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary of findings, conclusion and
recommendation 65
5.1 Summary of findings 65-67
5.2 Conclusion 68
5.3 Recommendation 68-69
Questionnaire 70-75
Bibliography 76-78
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The general history of co-operative can be traced back
to industrial revolution which took place in the 19th century in England.
Co-operative societies are autonomous bodies formed by
human beings with similar economic and socio-interest. Their major object is to
improve on the socio-economic contributions of their members by mutual
assistance.
The effort of the government basically is to enhance
the socio-economic conditions of the citizens, this is prevalent in both
developing and developed countries. There is a common task by the government
and the citizen in trying to the vicious circle of underdevelopment. In
pursuing and attaining these goals the formation of co-operative was advocated.
Co-operative can be viewed from different angles. According to Berko (1989) he gave a comprehensive definition of co-operative “as association of persons with variable membership, who have pooled themselves and their resources together on mutual or self-help basis to form a business enterprise which seeks to solve the socio-economic problems of these members by directly providing goods and service to them in their capacity as either the customers or employees of the co-operative enterprises.
In the above definition, some points are very
important. First the society membership is voluntary and not by force, secondly
the members must be free unlike what happen between the capitalist and their
work where they were exploited and so many evils were made upon them. So
co-operative can be seen as an effective instrument for obliterating the evils
of capitalism.
The factory workers sufferings includes high prices of
goods, very low wages, adulteration of goods and short weight and measures,
long hours of work, unsanitary living and working conditions. As a result of
these evils, a philanthropist and social reformer by name Sir Robert Owen
(1771-1858) came to rescue of these poor workers by the formation of a consumer
co-operative.
In Nigeria 1934, Mr C.P Shickland presented a report on
the advisability of introducing co-operative in Nigeria 1935 marked the passing
of the of the first co-operative ordinance known as the ordinance No 39 of 1933
with Mr. E.F.G Haig as the first registrar of co-operative. The first
co-operative was the cocoa co-operative followed by credit and consumer
co-operative societies.
Seeing the impact of co-operative in Nigeria, the
Shagari’s led administration in 1980 established the federal department of
Agriculture co-operative as one major step taken towards boasting food
production in the country for the development plan period 1981-1985.
Later different types of co-operative were formed;
their major objective is to increase the socio-economic of the members. This
invariably contributed to the gross domestic product (GDP) which implies
increases in economic development movement.
One of the ways co-operative led to economic
development is through Agricultural co-operative. The resultant effect is shift
to the secondary manufacturing sector. The total effect of this is large scale
production, rise in the demand for manufactured goods and extend in the market
size.
Agricultural co-operative also leads to expansion of
the Agro-based industries. It leads to increase rural income and welfare,
better feeding and housing, better services from schools, health centers,
banks, and transport and communication facilities. All these improve the rural
people’s standard of living which is a measure for economic development of a nation.
Co-operative business determines the degree of economic
and social development of Ekwusigo Local Government Area and it is e very of
the greatest activities which government can give support for effective
development of the state.
Co-operative is seen as a tool for socio-economic
development in most third world countries. Ijere (1986) stated that
co-operative societies are remarkable instrument in development of developing
states.
Helin (1986) stated that economic and socio-logical
factors are the factors that were responsible for the development of
co-operative. The economic factors was informed by the desire of the
co-operative members to improve as their economic status to gain a considerable
economic benefit. The sociological factor was as a result of people’s needs for security, leadership, self
actualization and solidarity provided by the co-operative society.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
The statement of problem in this study is to
investigate the impact of co-operative business organization in socio-economic
development in Ekwusigo Local Government Area. On the basis of this knowledge
gained from this investigation, some recommendations will be made for
improvement.
THE IMPACT OF CO-OPERATIVE BUSINESS ORGANIZATION IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A CASE STUDY OF EKWUSIGO LGA IN ANAMBRA STATE
