THE IMPACT OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF SAPELE DELTA STATE

CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
For effective Local Community Development in Nigeria, various Successive governments have embarked on several programme such as:

Agricultural Development Project

Poverty Alleviation Societies

Co-operative Societies

Credit Scheme and Micro Finance
In Nigeria today Community development has been given some serious attention for the first time only during the third National Development Plan (1975-1930) it was the beginning of the general Babangida’s administration that the federal government began to really translate what has been on paper in positive dynamic action.
The co-operative Society was seen as a Panaca (Solution) for local Communities transformation, Federal government has intensified their comparing for the formation of co-operative societies, especially the Agricultural Co-operative societies, this is due to the recognition of the fact that efficient Co-operative societies can arise the productivity total output, and incomes of producers mainly due to the education, nationalization and competition effects.
According to Idere (1998), Co-operative Societies generally have been recognized as veritable instrument for social – economic development and local communities changes. Also co-operative societies have been found as the most appropriate avenue for local government mobilization organization modern co-operative movement had it origin in Britain in 1844. It was the product of harsh, aggressive Cut threat common man and his basis Consumer items stood along chain of profiteering middle man, Landlord and money lenders. This co-operative society movement began to spread to other, parts of Europe and eventually other parts of the word including Nigeria.
In the Year 1933, the co-operative ordinance was enabled by the Colonial masters, thus co-operative was seen as an investment for social economic transformation especially, for local communities.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The local Communities suffer more from scourge of poverty than the urban dwellers because they constitute the group that is mostly affected.
Survey studies indicate that local communities are provided with lower proportion of infrastructure than their Urban Counterparts that most Nigerians living in local Communities are still without basic infrastructure necessary of a decent level of well being life.
These Local communities experience much hardship resulting from their inability to solve certain basic needs of life. Thus, the need for co-operative societies as a solution of rural transformation was very urgent.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Determine the role of co-operative societies in local community development

To identify the problems of Local communities and to draw implications of communities development using co-operative societies as universal remedies.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What are the problems of Local Communities

Is there any significant relationship between co-operative societies to local government communities development.

What are the implications of local communities using co-operative societies?