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Transcript of 2008 Webmaster - University Of Nigeria Nsukka
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OBODOECHI, OSSY
PG/M.Sc/06/46390
CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
NIGERIA: A STUDY OF SELECTED CO-OPERATIVES IN OJI-RIVER
AND UDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ENUGU STATE
Institute for Developement Studies
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ENUGU CAMPUS
Webmaster Digitally Signed by Webmaster‟s Name
DN : CN = Webmaster‟s name O= University of Nigeria, Nsukka
OU = Innovation Centre
2008
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
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CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
NIGERIA: A STUDY OF SELECTED CO-OPERATIVES IN OJI-
RIVER AND UDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ENUGU
STATE
BY
OBODOECHI, OSSY
PG/M.Sc/06/46390
A RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE INSTITUTE FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA
ENUGU CAMPUS
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE (MSc) IN DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES.
DECEMBER, 2008
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CERTIFICATION
I, Obodoechi Ossy PG/M.SC/06/46390, do hereby certify that this research project
was carried out by me as an original work and has not been submitted to this or any
other institution of higher learning for any degree, diploma or certificate
Obodoechi, Ossy
(PG/MSc/06/46390)
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APPROVAL
This is to certify that this research work was carried out by Obodoechi Ossy, a
Postgraduate Student of the Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria,
Enugu Campus and with registration number PG/MSc/06/46390. He has satisfactorily
completed the requirements for the course and the research work which is adequate in
scope and quality for the award of the degree of Masters of Science (MSc) in
Development Studies.
DR. Ewurum Date
Supervisor
Prof. Ikechukwu E. Nwosu, Ph.D Date
Director, IDS
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DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to my lovely wife Nnenna MaryAnne Obodoechi and our
children
Obodoeze
Buchi, and
Kamdi
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere appreciation goes to my supervisor, the amiable Dr. Ewurum. His
humility and dedication to work inspires hundreds of PG students who over the years
passed through him. I am humbled by his intellectual and yet humane appeal. The
pioneer M.Sc. Development class had many students who radiated candour and
intellectualism. To this end I must mention Henry Ozomaro whose contribution to
this work is phenomenal. Barr. Rex Oti is the visible hand of God who made the
completion of this programme a reality. To my entire class member I admire you all.
There is no doubt that a work of this magnitude had many hands on deck. Mr.
Umoh and Dr. V.A. Onodugo made the M.Sc. class worth while. I am intellectually
indebted to these two rising colossus. Who ever missed there lecture must always
know he has lost a lot. Professor Ike Nwosu‟s contribution to this success story
cannot be overemphasized. We all still mourn with him on the demise of his late wife.
Those whose names are not mentioned here should not feel slighted. I am
forever in the book of debts of many fellows. Miss Christy Anonde, thank you for
dutifully typing this work. In God‟s name, most merciful, most compassionate may
blessing follow you all.
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ABSTRACT
Rural development took prominence on the international scene during the
1960s. It was the then U.N.O secretary general, Mr. Lee grant who declared 1962 –
1977 as a “development decade” and by so doing harped on the concept of rural
development. Rural development which means a process whereby concerted efforts
are made in order to facilitate significant increases in rural resource productivity
with the overall aim of improving rural incomes and employment opportunities is an
integral aspect of National development. In Nigeria, it has been argued that majority
of Nigerians (about 70%) live in rural areas. Again, it is quite obvious that in the
prevailing rural-urban divides, the pangs of poverty are greatly felt in the rural
areas. Comparatively, most rural dwellers lack access to basic facilities such
electricity, good road network, safe water sources, educational facilities, recreation
etc. Efforts over the years have shown that governments all over the world cannot
alone provide this. The concept of self help organization (S.H.O) and the twin brother
non-governmental organizations (NGO) are all geared towards ensuring that efforts
are galvanized and synthesized in transforming the rural areas. Cooperative is both
an (SHO) and also an (NGO). Throughout the world this “pan-humanic”
organization has contributed in no small measure in alleviating the suffering of the
masses. In this work, the researcher traced scientifically how cooperatives help
members solve their socio-economic needs, thereby shielding members from the
vagaries of exploitation (economic wind cheater). This study reveal in detail various
ways through which cooperatives solve members problems. However, it was
discovered that cooperatives in Udi and Oji-River LGAs could do better if necessary
institutional foundations are made. Recommendations were made on how to make
cooperatives do more for her members; these include Government support and
encouragement, Creation of education department in Divisional Council (Need for a
cooperative republic) and more involvement by NGO’s, SHO’s and international
donor agencies.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page …….….………………………………………………………………. i
Certification ….………………………………………………………….............. ii
Approval Page ….….….………………………………………………………… iii
Dedication .……………………………………………………………………… iv
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………... v
Abstract ..…...........……………………..……………………………………….. vi
Table of Contents……….………….……………………………………………... viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of the Problems - - - - - 4
1.3 Objective of the Study - - - - - 5
1.4 Research Questions - - - - - 6
1.5 Research Hypothesis - - - - - 6
1.6 Significance of Study - - - - - 7
1.7 Area of the Study- - - - - - - 8
1.8 Limitations of Study - - - - - - 8
1.9 Definition of Terms - - - - - - 9
References - - - - - 11
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 12
2.2 Theoretical Framework - - - - - 18
2.3 The role of Cooperative societies in Rural Development - 22
2.3.1 Land Acquisition /Land Reform Cooperatives - - 23
2.3.2 Mechanization - - - - - - - 24
2.3.3 Supply of Inputs - - - - - - 25
2.3.4 Supply of Agricultural Credit - - - - - 25
2.3.5 Processing of Raw Materials through Cooperatives - - 26
2.3.6 Marketing of Agricultural produce - - - - 27
2.4 Cooperative societies in Udi and Oji River LGAs of Enugu
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State: historical perspective - - - - 29
2.4.1 Types of co-operative societies in Udi and Oji-River LGAs - 29
2.4.2 Problems and Challenges associated with Cooperatives
In Rural Development - - - - - - 30
2.5 The concept of rural development - - - - 33
2.6 historical background of rural development in Nigeria - 40
References - - - - - - - 52
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 45
3.2 Research Design - - - - - - 46
3.3 Sources of data - - - - - - 46
3.4 Population of the Study - - - - - 47
3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques - - - 48
3.6 Data collection instrument and method of administration - 51
3.7 Instrument validity and reliability - - - - 52
References - - - - - - - 56
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Introduction - - - 57
4.2 Data Presentation - - - 58
4.3 Testing the Hypothesis of the Study - - - 65
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS
AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Summary of Findings - - - - - - 70
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - 74
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - 75
Bibliography - - - - - - - 77
Appendices - - - - - 81
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Over the years, the issue of rural development in Nigeria has been a subject of
popular debate. Many have argued in support of the need for effective and efficient
development of the rural areas. This is against the fact that in post independent
Nigeria, development emphasis has been placed on the urban centers more than rural
areas. This phenomenon is sustained by every successive government despite the
generally acceptable fact that about 70% of Nigerian population reside in rural areas.
Poverty has also been identified as been more prevalent in the rural than urban areas.
Perhaps, this to a large extent contributes to massive movement of people from rural
to the urban centers. In view of the above scenario, many actors have come to take
particular interest in the development of the rural areas. Prominent among these are
the Non-Governmental Organizations, International donor agencies, Self Help
Organizations and Promotion Institutions (Ogili, 2004; Ndukwe, 2005; Berko, 2001).
Rural development in Africa especially in Nigeria has not fared so well. This
is so because government claims not to have enough resources to bring meaningful
development to rural areas. Cooperatives which is an association of persons who have
pooled themselves and their resources together to fight common socio-economic
problems is both seen as a non-Governmental organizations and a self help
organizations (Ndukwe, 2005).
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The Nigerian government as far back as in the 1960s has embarked on many
developmental programmes towards ensuring the development of the rural
communities. Some of these developmental programmes include the following:
i. Farm Settlement Scheme (FSS)
ii. Accelerated Food Production (AFP)
iii. Operation Feed the Nation (OFN)
iv. Green Revolution (GR)
v. River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA)
vi. Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP)
vii. Supervised Agricultural Credit Scheme (SACS)
viii. The Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI)
These programmes no doubt, produced some encouraging results, but
however it was not enough to transform the Nigerian rural areas to the desired level
or heights. It is thus in an attempt to fill the existing development gap that groups
such as co-operative societies are formed. Interestingly, cooperatives can be formed
by the mighty and the low. The uniqueness of cooperatives and its flexibility permits
it to be practiced among farmers, fishermen, artisans, industrial and commercial
workers, drivers, students, market men and women etc. Membership of cooperatives
cut across men and women, the rich and the poor, the literate and the illiterate. All
over the continents of Africa, Asia, South and North America and Australia,
cooperatives have become an integral part of the economy (Obodoechi, 2006; Ijere,
1991).
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It is in affirmation of the above stated importance that Adekanya (1981) posits
that cooperatives are fundamental and an indispensable element in rural development.
He insists that cooperative is one of the inevitable pre-requisites for rural
transformation. Ijere (1991:34) sums up the relevance of cooperatives in rural
development when he asserts that, “cooperatives have been found as the most
appropriate avenue for rural mobilization and organization”. He further contends
that:
In some ways agricultural cooperatives serve as the most suitable channels
for delivering inputs and other services to a multitude of rural dwellers
scattered over wide geographical expanses of land. Cooperation teaches
humanism self help which neither capitalism nor socialism can approach. It
puts man in the centre of discussions and actions in contra distinction to
capitalism with its enthronement of capital and profits. In consequence,
cooperatives have been known all over the world as the best agencies for
dealing with land reforms, improved storage, processing and marketing,
transfer of agricultural technology and further greater participation of rural
people in these virtues.
It is therefore against the following background that this study seeks to assess
the role of co-operative societies in Rural Development of Enugu State.
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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Governments all over the world understand the indispensability of
cooperatives as active players in rural development. These important roles have been
succinctly articulated in the nation‟s agricultural policy. The primary objectives of
government on agricultural cooperatives according to this policy are:
i. To evolve a virile system which will facilitate their practice and use in
agriculture as an effective vehicle for social and economic development at
the grass-roots level throughout the federation; and
ii. To use agricultural cooperatives as machinery for rural transformation and
development which will affect the various aspects of rural life
These overt pronouncements above are not actually matched with realities on
the ground. Countries like U.S.A, China, Russia, Israel, Asian Tigers and even
smaller ones like Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and even Ghana can boast of a strong
comparative movement which brings about a more realistic rural development. It is
quite obvious that after 69 years of existence of co-operatives and their active
involvement in Nigeria‟s rural development, indicators of development in Nigeria‟s
rural areas are still quite discouraging. Many of the existing ones appear to make
more impact in publicity than in rendering genuine developmental services to the
rural dwellers. Co-operatives in recent times also seem to receive less attention from
both public and private sectors. It is also observed that co-operatives die faster than
new ones are formed. What could be responsible for these and other anomalies
within the co-operatives and how co-operatives could be repositioned to function
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more effectively as partners in development with the government constitute part of
the cardinal problems of this study.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this research work is to ascertain the role of
cooperatives in rural development especially in Udi and Oji-River Local Government
Areas of Enugu State. Specific objectives of the study include the following:
i. Identify various types/kinds of cooperative existing in Udi and Oji-River
Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
ii. To examine various kinds of activities performed by cooperatives to members
in both Local Government Areas.
iii. To identify various sources of finance available to the societies under review.
iv. To assess the effectiveness of policies aimed at promoting co-operative
societies.
v. To identify some of the challenges which co-operative societies face in the
rural areas.
vi. To assess how co-operatives impact on rural development.
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1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The under listed shall form the research questions of the inquiry:
i. What are the dominant types of cooperative societies in Udi and Oji-River
Local Government Areas of Enugu State?
ii. What kinds of activities are performed by co-operatives in Udi and Oji-River
LGAs?
iii. What are the various sources of financing the activities of these co-operatives?
iv. How effective are policies aimed at promoting co-operative societies?
v. What are the challenges which co-operative societies face in the rural areas?
vi. To what extent do co-operatives impact on rural development?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
In carrying out this study, there have to be tentative statements upon which its
finding would be based. The following assumptions have been developed and would
be tested in later chapter.
Ho Co-operative societies have no tremendous impact on the rural development
and socio-economic lives of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu
State.
H1: Co-operative societies have tremendous impact on the rural development and
socio-economic lives of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
Ho Inadequate resources have not been a threat to the effectiveness of Co-
operative societies Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
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H1 Inadequate resources have been a threat to the effectiveness of Co-operative
societies Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
Ho Lack of a sustainable policy framework does not impede the exploit of Co-
operative societies in the rural development and improvement of socio-
economic lives of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
H1 Lack of a sustainable policy framework impedes the exploit of Co-operative
societies in the rural development and improvement of socio-economic lives
of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work helps to enlighten different interest groups including
business practitioners, Nigerian entrepreneurs and others to understand the real
contributions of cooperative societies in rural development in Nigeria. It will also
enable cooperative societies to discover their weaknesses and challenges in the
performance of their roles in rural development.
It will also furnish small and medium enterprise owners and interest groups
with data about the macroeconomic and institutional constraints inhibiting the
survival and growth of cooperative societies in Nigeria in general. This will enable
them to appreciate the need for change in operational techniques to enhance labour
productivity.
The result of this study will serve as a guide to all tiers of government,
professional bodies and other relevant stakeholders in rural planning and business
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policy reforms. It will also serves as a reference tool for business management
students and other researchers for future research work.
1.7 AREA OF STUDY
This study which emphasizes rural development from the cooperatives
viewpoint is limited to Udi and Oji-River local governments areas of Enugu State.
There are one hundred and two (102) primary cooperative societies in Udi
local government area and one hundred and one (101) registered primary
cooperatives in Oji-River local government area. Therefore out of 19 Local
Governments Council in Enugu State only two (2) is chosen. Even in Enugu West
senatorial zone which comprises of five (5) local governments namely:
a. Awgwu
b. Aninri
c. Oji-River
d. Udi and
e. Ezeagu.
Only two already mentioned i.e. Oji-River and Udi were chosen.
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
Cooperatives in Nigeria have not taken its pride of place. It has also been said
in this research work that the cooperative societies is perhaps 69 years old in Nigeria.
This has created problems of their own. There is dearth of materials with regard to
cooperatives. This is better understood when rural areas like the ones under review
are involved.
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There is also the civil services attitude of attaching “secret” or vital
information which could ordinarily help the researcher to arrive at better judgment
and decision.
This study was constrained by finances.
There is no doubt that some percentages of cooperators are illiterates thereby
making distribution and collection of questionnaires difficult.
Also the problem of finance, time and logistics equally presents an uphill task
towards the completion of this work.
1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Cooperative Society: An organization formed by individuals who
have same socio-economic problems to contend with. It is a
democratically controlled institution that prevents members from
being exploited. Cooperatives remain the only business that do not
make profit but exist to serve members socio-economic interest.
2. Rural development: Simply means sustained attempts to transform
the rural areas in such a way that the problems of rural areas, which
make life very difficult and uncomfortable, are minimized to ensure
improved conditions.
3. Self Help Organizations: (SHOs): These are associations formed by
group without the support or encouragement of others. Self Help
connotes self-reliance, self trust; it includes organizations like
Cooperatives, pressure groups, federation and trade unions.
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4. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): The term NGO‟s refers
to organizations that are private, That is, non-public institution. They
are Institutions not owed by government.
5. Community based Organization (CBO): This simply refer to
associations that are domicile in the rural areas. They are basically
formed for the well being of rural dwellers. There essence can be
found in activities they perform. Essentially they are Non-
Governmental Organizations. They play major part in the development
of the rural communities. They include associations like Town-Unions,
Age-grades, classificatory sisters (Umuada), Christian Organizations.
etc.
6. Agricultural Productivity: The index of the ratio of the value of the
total inputs used in farm production.
7. F.M.C.S: farmers Multi Purpose Cooperative.
8. M.C.S: Multi Purpose Cooperative Society.
9. CTLS: Cooperative Thrift and loan society.
10. C.T.C.S: Cooperative Thrift and Credit Society.
12. C.C.U: Cooperative Credit Union.
13. V.A.S: Village Adoption Scheme.
14. F.S.S: Farm Settlement Scheme.
15. D.C.S: Development Adoption Scheme.
16. D.C.C: Divisional cooperative Council.
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REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Anyanwu, C.F (1992). Community development, the Nigerian Perspective.
Ibadan: Gabester Education Publishers.
Bakare, C.O. 1977. The Concept of Rural Development. Summary of P.A.O.
Cairo: Inter-regional Seminar on Integrated Development.
Bernistern, H. 1978. Under-development and Development: The Third World
Today. England: Soffolk Richard Clay Ltd.
Business Times (1990) Nigerian Economy since Independence
1960-1990: A Report .Monday October 1 Pg 9
Heyer, A. (1981). Rural Development in Tropical Africa. London: Macmillan Press.
Ijere, M.O (1991). Promoting Women in Cooperatives.
Enugu: Acena Publishers.
Lele, U. (1975). The Design of Rural Development Lessons from Africa.
Baltmore: Holt Rinbert.
Mabogunje, A.L. 1981. The Development Process: A Spatial Perspective.
Ibadan: University Press.
Madu, E.N. (1989). “Rending Mimeograph on Rural development”
Unpublished journal.
World Bank.(1975). “Rural Development”. A Policy Paper. Washington D.C.:
World Bank.
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CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 INTRODUCTION
A cooperative is defined by the International Co-operative Alliance's
Statement on the Co-operative Identity as an autonomous association of persons
united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and
aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise (Ridley-
Duff, 2007). It is a business organization owned and operated by a group of
individuals for their mutual benefit. (Sullivan, 2003).
A cooperative may also be
defined as a business owned and controlled equally by the people who use its services
or who work at it. Cooperative enterprises are the focus of study in the field of
cooperative economics.
Over the years, it has been argued that co-operation is but a form of individual
and societal behavior that is inherently intrinsic to human organization. The history of
modern co-operative forms of organizing dates back to the Agricultural and Industrial
Revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries. The status of which was the 'first co-
operative' is under some dispute, but various milestones in the history may be
identified (Rothschild, 2008; Oakeshott, 2002). In 1761, the Fenwick Weavers' Society
was formed in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, Scotland to sell discounted oatmeal to local
workers. Its services expanded to include assistance with savings and loans,
emigration and education. In 1810, Robert Owen, Welsh social reformer from
Newtown in mid-Wales, and his partners purchased New Lanark mill from Owen's
father-in-law and proceeded to introduce better labor standards including discounted
retail shops where profits were passed on to his employees. Owen left New Lanark to
pursue other forms of co-operative organization and develop co-op ideas through
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writing and lecture (Charles, 2004). Co-operative communities were set up in
Glasgow, Indiana and Hampshire, although ultimately unsuccessful. In 1828, William
King set up a newspaper, The Cooperator, to promote Owen's thinking, having
already set up a co-operative store in Brighton.
In the final decade of the 20th century, cooperatives banded together to
establish a number of social enterprise which have moved to adopt the multi-
stakeholder cooperative model. In the last 15 years (1994 - 2009) the EU, and
member nations, have gradually revised national accounting systems to "make
visible" the increasing contribution of social economy organizations (Rothschild,
2008).
Berko (1987:18) defines a cooperative as:
A voluntary and democratic association of persons, with variable
membership and variable capital whose members pooled themselves
and their resources together on mutual and self help basis to form a
business enterprise which seeks to solve the socio-economic
problem(s) of these members by directly providing goods and services
to them in their capacity as either the owner/customer or owner-
employee of the cooperative enterprises.
In a related development, Chukwu (1990:66) succinctly puts it that:
Cooperative societies are institutions within whose frame-work
cooperation or joint activities by people take place in a formalized,
long-term, deliberate and, to a great extent, specific form in the
social and especially economic sphere of human endeavour.
For Ijere (1992:33)
Cooperative is an association of persons joined together to achieve a
common end and through the formation of a democratically controlled
organization, making equitable contribution to the capital required and
accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in
which the members actively participate.
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Dulfer (2007) sees Cooperative as having the following dimensions:
a. A group of persons with at least one economic interest and with variable
membership;
b. The aim of the group and each individual member of the group is to
meet the common need by joint action based on mutual assistance.
c. The means to achieve this aim is to establish a common enterprise
(Cooperative enterprise)
d. The goods and services (benefits) of the cooperative enterprises are
made directly available to the members as customers or as employees.
Thus, the members are simultaneously owners and customers or
employees (in the case of productive cooperatives) of the cooperative
enterprises.
Internal Cooperative Alliance (ICA) (1995) defines cooperative as ;
an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their
common economic, social and cultural needs and aspiration and
through a jointly owned and controlled enterprise.
I.C.A (1995) vehemently rationalizes the imperativeness of cooperative in the
development process. Accordingly, co-operative is characterized by the following;
a. A genuine is an autonomous from governmental or external control
and domination.
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b. Members join voluntarily as a result of having acquired a new
awareness, through education of the benefits of cooperation. They
should not be forced or tactically manipulated to join;
c. A cooperative is an association of persons, not of capital. The interest
of the members must come before those of capital. The group of
persons is the social element.
d. The objective of the group is to meet the members’ needs in the
economic field as well as their aspirations in the social and cultural
fields, religious and political, criminal objectives are however
excluded.
Obviously, Cooperative society is as old as man. A popular Igbo proverb has
it that when body itches a man, he turns to a fellow man for scratching, but when it
itches an animal, she turns to a tree. Throughout history, man had understood that it
pays to work together than in isolation, hence the popular adage “waited, we stand,
divided we fall”.
The American‟s refer to their earliest rural cooperative movement as “the
Bees” emphasizing strength in unity. In pre-colonial Africa, early cooperative
activities were also visible. The Ghana Empire mobilized well over two hundred
thousand (200,000) soldiers to execute a single war – This was before the coming of
the white man. In Igbo land, the popular “Isusu” i.e. thrift savings society, has
continued to be useful even till today virtually, in all parts of pre-colonial Nigeria, the
savings in all parts of pre-colonial Nigeria, the thrift savings has continued to be
relevant.
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The advent of colonialism in Africa did not impinge on cooperatives; instead
it brought about the modern form of cooperative society.
Cooperative society as is practiced today originated in Britain. Infact, the first
successful cooperative is call the Rochdate Equitable Pioneers (REP) founded in
1844. The birth of this society was as a result of the evil of industrial revolution, also
called “Hungry-forties” which some people also to as “The Napoleon wars” (1750 –
1850). Humanity decided to come together to fight the hunger, disease, ignorance,
and poverty.
Industries revolution marked obviously, the beginning of the scientific world.
Machines, equipment, technology and science took off, but all these brought about
lose of jobs in factories, as machines took over employees‟ jobs. Those who were
lucky to still retain their jobs had their wages repeatedly reduced. Cooperatives then
can as a panacea to alleviating people‟s problem.
In Nigeria, cooperatives were introduced by the colonial during the First
World War. These cooperatives which were consumer in nature were used by the
colonial masters to ration essential commodities. This cooperative was restricted to
only white colonial masters. It was in 1930‟s that the first attempt was made to start a
genuine cooperative movement in Nigeria. The British government having
successfully introduced cooperative in India, in 1904 tried to do the same in Nigeria.
In 1933, the then colonial government appointed Mr. C.F. Strickland to study the
possibility of introducing cooperatives into Nigeria. Mr. Strickland submitted his
report in April 1934 with recommendation that Nigeria is overdue for a cooperative
law. His report was wholly accepted by government and in 1935, the Nigerian
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Cooperative Society Ordinance was enacted and in the following year 1936
regulations were drawn up to guide the running of cooperative societies. In 1945, the
Gbendu Cocoa Marketing cooperatives were formed. The essence being to organize
cocoa farmers so raw materials can be shipped to Britain. Cooperatives spread like
wide fire through out the country. Within this came the problem of administration, i.e.
running these societies effectively and efficiently.
With regionalization in 1951, cooperative grew according to their regions. The
cooperative department was set up in the East with Enugu as the headquarters and
Mr. R. M. Leslie as the first registrar. Cooperatives in the East began to do extremely
well. As a matter of fact, the occupation, skill and product of the local people dictated
the type of cooperative formed. Between 1967 to 1991,Eastern Nigeria
metamorphosed through four geo-political stages from where Enugu State finally
emerged in August, 1991.
The creation of Enugu State in August 1991 acted as a catalyst in the
formation and diversification of cooperative organization in the state and increase in
the number of societies. The establishment of Cooperative has been in varying
degrees in every aspect of economic activity including farming, housing, product
marketing, rice milling, cassava processing mills, farm-settlements, credit and thrift
and even the informal sector and again women organizations. Cooperative thrives in
Enugu state. The essence of cooperative being to cater for members‟ welfare. The
economic needs of members act as binding force for members activities. The Enugu
State government like others supervises cooperatives through the Ministry of
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Commerce, Industry and Technology. The registrar or director is appointed to
specifically oversee the activities of cooperatives.
The director with his wealth of experience also appointed divisional
cooperative officers who oversee cooperatives in every local government area. Enugu
State has seventeen (17) Local Government Area including our focus Udi and Oji-
River Local Government Areas.
2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
It is quite obvious that to investigate any socio-economic problem in
contemporary society, researches meticulously adopt quite a number of ways.
Specifically, in social science research diverse approaches are adopted in the
explanation of socio-economic cum political phenomena: functionalism,
structuralism, system theory, games theory, symbolic interactionism,
phenomenology, ethnomethodology, modernization theory, behaviouralism,
corporative analysis, the political culture approach, the political economy theory
etc.(Anikpo, 1995; Ntete-Nna, 2004; Ekpenyong, 1993).
According to Anikpo (1995) the above approaches in social sciences inquiry
“are life doors or windows through which one views the society and interpret events
in it so that effective policies can be made for solving society‟s problems”. In the
light of the above, this work shall adopt the political economy approach as its
theoretical framework in its quest to investigate the dynamics of co-operative
societies in the advancement of Rural Development.
28
With this, we critically examined the management, production and
distribution of the material wealth of the society among contending groups,
segments, classes and formations that have risen from the production processes
(Ntete-Nna, 2004). This is done with the believe that people formed co-operative
societies basically to advance their socio-political cum economic position in the
world where human needs are enormous but resources to meet such needs scarce.
In the opinion of Iain Mclean (1996:22), the concept of political economy,
like a philosophical THREE LEGGED IRON POT, is rested on three broad
traditions:
It is possible nevertheless to identify three broad
traditions of political economy… These are first, the
tradition of classical political economy; secondly,
Marxian tradition and finally, the tradition of political
economics which uses structural modeling techniques to
test hypothesis about the relationship between
government and the economy.
Based on historical materialism, the political economy approach gives
primacy to material conditions in social enquiry and emphasizes the dynamic
character of reality as well as the interrelatedness of the different elements of the
society. While the modernization approach concerns itself with systemic stability,
consensus and order, the political economy approach gives us an insight into the
dynamics of social reality as it focuses on change driven by contradictions. This is of
immense use to Less Developed Countries in general and Nigeria in particular where
development is under pressure.
29
Political economy approach, as Gutkin (2006) explains , is the inter meshing
of the so-called political, economic and social factors of change in one ongoing
historical process. The dynamics of such changes come from a continuing interplay
of economic forces and related social classes and those dynamics are reflected and
furthered through institutional innovation and change.
Thus, in this work, the rationale for the adoption of the political economy
approach is derived from the fact that the approach is anchored on a Marxian notion
of man, society and politics. It examines the dynamics of the society and politics by
understanding the laws of social development. And to understand these laws
scientifically, the method of dialectical materialism is applied. This is summed up as
“a philosophical and sociological science concerned with the most general laws and
motive forces of the development of the society” (Berbeshkina, 1985)
Its apparent resort to a holistic approach to social analysis with the economic
factor as a point of departure gives us a wider view of society and treats problems
arising from such societies in concrete and not abstract terms. The western
modernization theories cannot stand the rigours of such questioning analysis as it
stems from “its uncompromising view of the people (Africans) and their culture. It
cannot accept them on their own terms. Its interest in Africa focuses on the
possibility of Africa becoming what it is not and probably cannot be” (Ake, 1996).
It is obvious therefore that the post colonial Nigerian State is bereft of
requisite capital and technology and as such had to depend heavily on the West for
supply. This over dependency is done without taking into cognizance the peoples‟
30
desires and character of the state. In this work, we see this development as an
obvious cause of distortions in popular participation in Nigeria‟s development
efforts. It is equally a major crisis for the western modernization paradigm.
Therefore, in adopting the political economy approach as the theoretical
foundation of this study we intend to expose the apparent process of democratization
and development especially as it affects self-help efforts towards rural development.
As Claude Ake (1994:17) succinctly puts:
The democratization (popular participation) occurring in
Africa does not appear to be in the least emancipatory.
On the contrary, it is legitimizing the disempowerment of
ordinary people who seem to be worse off than they used
to be because their political oppression is no longer
solution but a solution endowed with moral and political
legitimacy.
In specific terms, change driven by contradictions – which is the basis of our
adopting the political economic approach as our theoretical toolkit – exposes the
legitimizing of the top bottom approach at the community level under the guise of
participatory development. Just as the statist perspective dominates in the wider
society, the elite in the communities sometimes dominate the affairs at the grassroots.
In such a situation, change is at best contradictory. This is because the socio-
economic and political circumstances that have promoted and sustained the top-
bottom approach at the wider state level is still much in place at the community level.
Most co-operative societies in Nigeria suffer this obscure leadership arrangement.
This no doubt adds to their not performing satisfactorily in the area of rural
transformation. Therefore, the character of the state, its structure and the
31
manipulation of the ruling elites is manifest in most situations, hence, the
contradiction, which calls for resolution.
2.3 THE ROLE OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
Membership of cooperatives cut across the spectrum of the society, the rich,
the poor, the high and low, the literate and illiterate alike. However, there are
different types of cooperatives as there are needs. The flexibility of cooperatives
enables it to be formed in urban and rural areas. Cooperatives which are found in the
rural areas are usually those that are agricultural in nature. Berko (1987:71) has this to
say:
Agricultural producer cooperatives can generally be seen
as cooperatives whose members are agriculturist or
agricultural producers.
For agricultural producer cooperatives to be relevant in rural transformation,
they have to contribute to ensure that the conditions discussed above are fulfilled. It
must be made clear that agricultural producer cooperatives cannot single handedly
transform rural areas, just as even government alone cannot achieve. For cooperatives
to be relevant therefore they must see themselves as possible partners of other change
agents viz; the government, promotion institutions, the business houses and the
citizens themselves together with their various self help organizations.
It is common sense to state that the new lease of life which we want to attain
in rural area is a function of the economic capacity of the rural dwellers. High income
of farmers enables them to save and invest appropriately in their farm and other
occupations. It is possible for rural people to build decent homes, pay for utilities,
including medical services and their children‟s school expenditures; feed well,
contribute financially to community development; gain self confidence and public
32
respect and be motivated to take part in public affairs, politics and the
democratization process etc only when their incomes are high enough. A high level of
incomes in turn is a function of reduced cost of production, high investment, high
output, good storage, processing and marketing, and of course, fair and stable prices.
In the paragraphs that follow, we shall meticulously examine in details the
extent to which co-operative societies have contributed to rural transformation.
2.3.1 LAND ACQUISITION/LAND REFORM
Land acquisition cooperatives include cooperatives which are formed by
governments (usually with compulsory membership), especially after land reform so
that cooperatives could be apportioned part of the land by government for cooperative
farming. The second group consists of cooperatives which are formed on voluntary
basis to negotiate for land either from government or private land owners (land
leasing cooperatives). This group is almost non-existence in Nigeria mainly because
land is generally relative fairly distributed in the country and other African countries.
A third group is made up of those which are formed for the management of water
resources through irrigation and drainage, the installation of tanks, wells and pumps
etc. A fourth group of land acquisition/land reform cooperatives is the result of
voluntary land consolidation by individual land owners whose fragmented holdings
contribute to inefficiency in agriculture.
Land acquisition/reform cooperatives are very important in agriculture
because generally:
33
a) They help to make land available to those who do not have enough or are
landless. In Nigeria, for example, there are many people who cannot go
into agriculture because they have no land, and yet over fifty percent
(50%) of the country‟s arable land (about 40 million hectares) remains
uncultivated.
b) They secure title to land, which in turn includes high investment in land,
and increases productivity.
c) They make input distribution cheaper, easier and more effective. This is
why Prof. F. Idachaba has called for embarking upon on “Accelerated
Cooperative Input Distribution (ACID) programme
d) They make mechanization and tractorization more effective and cheaper.
e) They facilitate the work of extension officers and other change agents.
2.3.2 MECHANIZATION
Mechanization in agriculture contributes to higher total output and hence
higher incomes for farmer. Mechanization can be through animal traction or tractor
mechanization. Through mechanization, larger areas can be brought under
cultivation; trees and stumps can be uprooted; the land can be better prepared for
cultivation and equally important, mechanization ensures that crops are planted at the
right time since it speeds up work. Individual small farmers are certainly unable to
buy their own tractors and other relatively expensive implements, nor are they even
able to obtain the services of state tractors – hire services, if any at all. Farmers
34
through their cooperatives can buy or hire tractors to work on their farms, either as
individual holdings or non-cooperatives bases.
2.3.3 SUPPLY OF INPUTS
Agriculture can hardly remain productive without the application of right
inputs – improved seedlings/seeds/cuttings, fertilizers, pesticides etc. These are
usually not within the reach of individual small-holders. Cooperative organizations
are, however, able to obtain these inputs more easily and at relatively cheaper prices
too. In this country fertilizers are sold to farmers at subsidized prices partly through
cooperatives.
It is certainly not enough selling these inputs to farmers without the
appropriate knowledge and technology for their application. Here, again, cooperatives
play significant role by teaching their members how to apply these inputs properly.
Perhaps more importantly, we should not forget that it is one thing having
innovative agricultural inputs in a country and another having them adopted.
Cooperative organizations can quite influence their members to adopt innovations
which have the promise to increase output.
2.3.4 SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL CREDIT
One of the most important contributions of cooperatives to agricultural growth
and development is their provisions of credit facilities to their members. Providing
agricultural credit to small-holders on individual basis is a most difficult task. Since
about 70% of the adult population of most developing countries is mostly farmers, it
35
would mean, for example, that in Nigeria, credit institutions would be dealing with
about 20 million individual farmers. Agricultural credit management through
cooperatives has several advantages due to the functions which these cooperatives
carry out. These include:
i) Mobilization of members‟ small savings
ii) Linking cooperative members to credit institutions
iii) Undertaking to scrutinize individual members credit worthiness.
iv) Negotiating better terms for their members and undertaking to guarantee such
loans
v) Supervising the use of loans to ensure their non-diversion and proper use.
vi) Ensuring the repayment of loans
vii) Cooperatives can also generate their own internal sources to
supplement those of lending institutions.
viii) It is cheaper to grant credit through cooperatives (Berko, 2001).
2.3.5 PROCESSING OF RAW MATERIALS
Rural people have generally been producers of raw materials, whilst the urban
elite install equipment and plants to process the raw materials. The resultant value
added is usually about 30% - 50% of value of the raw materials. The net profit made
by these urban “manufactures” is therefore usually huge.
Cooperatives offer farmers a good organizational framework for this linkage.
In most developing countries, governments are not only interested in giving credit for
agricultural production but are also interested in encouraging farmers through their
36
cooperatives to process raw materials they produce. This, some governments do
through credit delivery and the provision of technical services.
The cooperative framework also allows an inflow of bank financing as well as
aid from international organizations, including those of the United Nations and
private international promotion institutions, for the purpose of promoting cottage
industries.
One of the problems of industries is the lack of raw materials. Some industries
are located in places where there are no raw materials, either for political reasons or
due to wrong feasibility studies. Such factories therefore incur very high production
costs since they have to be fed from a distance. This often results in capacity under-
utilization. Cooperative factories would usually not become a victim of this mistake
because the members of the cooperatives who are the owners would ensure that they
feed their factories with the required raw materials.
2.3.6 MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
The production promotion functions of cooperatives- land acquisition,
mechanization, supply of credit and inputs etc lead to increased productivity and total
output. It is, however, not enough to increase output without an appropriate marketing
strategy. Infact, increased output can sometimes lead to less net income due to falling
prices and wastages at the farm-gate or somewhere else along the distribution
channel. Individuals face several problems undertaking single – handedly the
marketing of their products. Cooperatives therefore have a role to play to ensure that
37
the produce of their members are marketed in such a way that the following effects,
among other, are achieved:
i. The influence of exploitative middlemen is as much as possible curtailed.
ii. Farmers receive fair prices for their products and that prices are stabilized.
iii. Relieve the farmers of the task of marketing his output himself, and thus
ensure that more time is available for actual production.
iv. Adequate transportation is made available.
v. The produce of farmers are processed and preserved properly in order to
prevent deterioration and loss in quality and prices.
vi. The products are properly stored where necessary;
vii. Supply is regulated where there is problem of over supply.
viii. Everything is done to make the products of these farmers competitive on the
market; and
ix. Finally, an overall increase in net incomes of farmers is guaranteed.
Having dutifully gone through what cooperatives can do to facilitate
significant increases in the economy of rural dwellers; it will suffice now to have a
look at the vocal of this research, that is, Udi and Oji-River local government councils
and cooperative activities in them.
38
2.4 COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN UDI AND OJI-RIVER LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ENUGU STATE: HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE
It is pertinent to note that until the local government creation of 1976, Oji-
River was under the old Udi division. The history of cooperative in Nigeria and that
of Eastern region will be incomplete if we fail to mention “Day Break at Udi – 1944
Chadwick experience”. According to Fafunwa (1980) the 1944 Chadwick Udi
experiment turned out to be the first launching of native consumer cooperative in
Nigeria, which took place at Ugwofia Owa. Mr. Chadwick was the Divisional Officer
in charge of Udi division. In attendance was the Registrar of Cooperatives in Nigeria,
Mr. Haig. Through community effort, the first consumer cooperative in Eastern
Nigeria and indeed entire nation was launched. From this experiment, cooperatives in
old Udi division never looked back. The implication being that rural development
was made possible through cooperative groupings, with the international community
becoming increasingly aware of the potentials of using cooperatives as vehicle for
national development.
2.4.1 TYPES OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN UDI AND OJI-
RIVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS
Classification of cooperatives simply refers to types/kinds of the society and
how they help members make a good living. Udi and Oji-River local government
areas are rural areas and the following cooperatives and found there;
Udi and Oji-River local government areas are pre dominantly agricultural
based. The two local government areas are close to each other and are situated along
39
old Enugu-Onitsha road. Oji-river local government area has Oji as her headquarters.
This local government areas has two major rivers namely, the popular Oji-river from
which the local government areas name was derived and Mamu river which equally
crosses Oji-River from Umunya.
On her own part, Udi local government has no known river except for various
streams and springs situated almost in every town in the local government areas. Both
local government areas have good vegetation which makes agriculture thrive. Crops,
trees like mambara seed (Okpa), cashew, palm trees, ground pear and a host of others.
Both local government areas have a thriving palm-wine market, perhaps, one of the
largest in South-East Nigeria. Also, both have a large chunk of their population in
farming. Thus, “Nkwo-agu” market, Orie-agu” market, Affia-mmanya” market are all
state-wide popular markets for palm-wine. The preponderance of palm-in the area
made the then governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim. Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo,
to site the famous Anambra vegetable Oil (Ayop) at Nachi in Udi local government
areas. The above scenario point to the fact that our case study has enough natural
endowments to make them want to choose cooperatives as a vehicle for enhancing
their economic well-being.
2.4.2 PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Cooperatives in Nigeria though young have only achieved a fraction of what it
can; this is because they are assailed by so many problems which militate against
their goal attainment. This is truer with cooperatives saddled with development of
rural areas. Below we X-ray some of them.
40
a) Poor Membership
The cooperative effect is usually not there to distinguish member of
cooperative from non-members. In other words, there is no difference between one
who belongs to cooperatives and one who does not, this makes non-member feel he
or she is missing nothing in not being a member of a cooperative society. Until this is
changed by cooperatives standing up to render services which they are created and
not being moribound.
b) Insufficient funding
Cooperative is usually an unlimited liability business and also a small/medium
scale business, this ensures that funding is always difficult. Cooperatives cannot go to
the stock exchange market. Governments, especially in developing countries do not
fund them well. With this insufficient funding, cooperatives cannot perform.
C Inadequate Education
Most members of the cooperative in rural areas are peasant farmers who can
neither read nor write. The problem of managing cooperative members who are
uneducated are enormous, this made the popular Swedish author to inform:
If given two alternative, a cooperative with little amount of
capital and knowledgeable members and another society
with large amount of capital but with little education, our
experience has inclined us to choose the former.
41
The role of education in cooperative development cannot be over-emphasized;
knowledge about new mode of agriculture must be disseminated and understood.
d) Absence of Modern/Improved Inputs
Agriculture can only be enhanced by improved input which will then result in
increased output. Poor finance, poor knowledge and the rest make possession of
inputs difficult. Nigerian experience has taught us that fertilizers which should go
direct to farmers now usually passes myriad of channels before it gets to farmers.
e) Inconsistencies in government policies
Governments come and go and with it changes in their policies. It is
unfortunate that till date in this country, we cannot understand the role of government
in supporting cooperatives.
f) Problem of landless agriculture
This simply refers to a situation where those who want to engage in serious
agriculture have no land. The advent of absentee millionaire farmers, who pay for
hectares of land, fence them, and then disappear to Abuja or Lagos is daily on the
increase, while those who want to farm lack access to land.
Another economic problem of the rural economy is use of the forest resources;
the forests are not properly protected developed and used.
42
g) Transportation problem
There is no gain saying the obvious, Nigerian roads are death traps. The ones
leading to our farm lands are even more traps than the conventional ones.
Inaccessibility to farm contributes more to produce waste than any other factor.
2.5 THE CONCEPT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Approach to Rural Development is dynamic. Working on interagency
relations requires knowledge of the agencies involved and their previous history of
working together. Rural development is more likely to succeed if the participants set
attainable goals and are realistic about the potential roles each agency can play.
Most Afro-centric development scholars have proposed the design for
Africa‟s development and poverty reduction on two principles – self reliance
(national and collective) and self-sustaining development (Ake, 1996). The 1980
Lagos Plan of Action, for example, set the tone for this endogenous development
paradigm. In its first paragraph, it captured the essence of desperation occasioned by
Africa‟s deepening impoverishment in these words:
The effect of unfulfilled promises of global development
strategies has been more sharply felt in Africa than in
other continents of the world. Indeed, rather than result
in an improvement in the economic condition of the
continent, successive strategies have made it stagnate
and become more susceptible than other regions to the
economic and social crises suffered by the industrialized
countries… (Osita, 1998).
43
It has long been established that SAP does not deal comprehensively with the
structural deformities of African economies. It is too concerned with the short-term
and not enough with the long-term needs of the poor. Ake (1996) thus advises that
since exogenous development strategies have failed, it may be necessary to put back
development where it belongs-into the hands of Africans. Be that as it may, Anikpo
(1995) has raised the fear that Africa‟s development along this pattern might not be
that easy for a good number of reasons:
Self-reliance so often proclaimed in the past but never
seriously pursued, will be more difficult still at this
historical conjecture because Africa is weaker, more
dependent and more difficult and the world of social
Darwinism out there knows no benevolence or tolerance.
But it is some consolation that the world is changing in
ways that make endogenous development objectively
necessary.
In view of the above, it would be expedient to say that while the state takes its
time to fashion out development policies, the poor must look inward to fashion out
ways towards self-development and survival.
Rural development as a concept lacks universal acceptability in terms of its
meaning, prospects, challenges etc. Basically, the concept depicts that sustained
attempts to transform the rural areas in a manner that rural dwellers will live a life of
dignity and compete favourably with their urban counterparts in assessing certain
socio-economic facilities (Onnome, 2007). As a multi-dimensional concept, rural
development encapsulates socio-economic, educational and political development. To
ensure economic improvement, the rural people must adopt rationale economic
behaviour and must be competitive. On the social scene, the rural people must have
44
all the social amenities which promote comfortable and happy living. On political
sphere, the rural people must ensure that they are not marginalized in the political
process. The two definitions below show our understanding of rural development.
The World Bank (1975) defines rural development as:
A strategy designated to improve the economic and social life of a
specific group of people – the rural poor. It involves extending the
benefits of development to the poorest among those who seek a
livelihood in the rural areas. These groups include small scale
farmers, tenants and the landless.
According Madu (1990) rural development is:
A process whereby concerted efforts are made in order to facilitate
significant increases in rural resource productivity with the overall
aim of improving rural incomes and employment opportunities. It is a
process that seeks not only to ensure an increase in the level of per
capita income of rural areas, but also the standard of living of the
rural population, it could equally be said to be a process of social,
economic and institutional reconstruction in which the people are the
architects of construction as well as beneficiaries. That is to say that
rural development is people oriented.
Both the World Bank (1975) definition and that of Madu (1990) recognize
that rural areas have labour, land and at least some capital, which if effectively
mobilized, could result to a reduction in poverty rate and improvement of quality of
life. Also, increased standard of living of the people will depend on such factors as
food and nutrition, health, education, housing, recreation and security. Rural
development does not necessarily mean agricultural development, but includes the
sum total of the country‟s economic development efforts in the rural area.
Many of our rural areas face significant challenges. Some of our farming and
forestry businesses still need to build their competitiveness. More generally, average
45
income per head is lower in rural regions than in our towns and cities, while the skills
base is narrower and the service sector is less developed. Also, caring for the rural
environment often carries a financial cost.
On the other hand, the European countryside has a great deal to offer. It gives
us essential raw materials. Its value as a place of beauty, rest and recreation – when
we look after it – is self-evident. It acts as our lungs, and is therefore a battleground
for the fight against climate change. And many people are attracted by the idea of
living and/or working there, provided that they have access to adequate services and
infrastructure.
Rural development in general is used to denote the actions and initiatives
taken to improve the standard of living in non-Urban neighbourhoods, countryside,
and remote villages. These communities can be exemplified with a low ratio of
inhabitants to open space. Agricultural activities may be prominent in this case
whereas economic activities would relate to the primary sector, production of
foodstuffs and raw materials (Steven, Haggblade et.al (2007).
Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) is the
subject of chapter 14 of Agenda 21 of the UN. The major objective of SARD is to
increase food production in a sustainable way and enhance food security. This will
involve education initiatives, utilization of economic incentives and the development
of appropriate and new technologies, thus ensuring stable supplies of nutritionally
adequate food, access to those supplies by vulnerable groups, and production for
markets; employment and income generation to alleviate poverty; and natural
46
resource management and environmental protection (Brown, J. 2006; Oakeshott, R.
(2002),).
The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) first reviewed Rural
Development at its third session in 1995, when it noted with concern that, even
though some progress had been reported, disappointment is widely expressed at the
slow progress in moving towards sustainable agriculture and rural development in
many countries. Sustainable agriculture was also considered at the five-year review of
implementation of Agenda 21 in 1997, at which time Governments were urged to
attach high priority to implementing the commitments agreed at the 1996 World Food
Summit, especially the call for at least halving the number of undernourished people
in the world by the year 2015. This goal was reinforced by the Millennium
Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government in September 2000, which
resolved to halve by 2015 the proportion of the world's people who suffer from
hunger.
In accordance with its multi-year programme of work, agriculture with a rural
development perspective was a major focus of CSD-8 in 2000, along with integrated
planning and management of land resources as the sectoral theme. The supporting
documentation and the discussions highlighted the linkages between the economic,
social and environmental objectives of sustainable agriculture. The Commission
adopted decision 8/4 which identified 12 priorities for action. It reaffirmed that the
major objectives of SARD are to increase food production and enhance food security
in an environmentally sound way so as to contribute to sustainable natural resource
47
management. It noted that food security-although a policy priority for all countries-
remains an unfulfilled goal. It also noted that agriculture has a special and important
place in society and helps to sustain rural life and land (Brown, J. 2006; Oakeshott, R.
(2002),). Rural Development is included as one of the thematic areas along with
Agriculture, Land, Drought, Desertification and Africa in the third implementation
cycle CSD-16/CSD-17.
For the European Union,the essential rules governing rural development
policy for the period 2007 to 2013, as well as the policy measures available to
Member States and regions, are set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005.
Under this Regulation, rural development policy for 2007 to 2013 is focused on three
themes (known as "thematic axes"). These are:
improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector;
improving the environment and the countryside;
Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of
the rural economy.
To help ensure a balanced approach to policy, Member States and regions are
obliged to spread their rural development funding between all three of these thematic
axes.
A further requirement is that some of the funding must support projects based on
experience with the Leader Community Initiatives. The "Leader approach" to rural
48
development involves highly individual projects designed and executed by local
partnerships to address specific local problems.
As before 2007, every Member State (or region, in cases where powers are delegated
to regional level) must set out a rural development programme, which specifies what
funding will be spent on which measures in the period 2007 to 2013.
A new feature for 2007 to 2013 is a greater emphasis on coherent strategy for
rural development across the EU as a whole. This is being achieved through the use
of National Strategy Plans which must be based on EU Strategic Guidelines.
This approach should help to:
1. Sidentify the areas where the use of EU support for rural development adds
the most value at EU level;
2. make the link with the main EU priorities (for example, those set out under
the Lisbon and Göteborg agendas);
3. ensure consistency with other EU policies, in particular those for economic
cohesion and the environment;
4. assist the implementation of the new market-oriented CAP and the necessary
restructuring it will entail in the old and new Member States (Rothschild,
J.et.al. 2008).
49
2.6 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN
NIGERIAN
That majority of Nigerians live in rural areas is undebateable. An estimate for
Nigeria‟s rural population in 2006 census is 70% of an estimated total national
population of approximately 140 million. Due to their relative powerlessness, the
rural dwellers are less vocal and are relatively neglected.
The rural area is characterized by a culture of poverty, as most people still live
barely above subsistence level. The role of infrastructural facilities in grassroots
development and poverty reduction cannot be over-emphasized whether in urban or
rural environments. Mcneil (1993) argues that adequate infrastructure reduces the
costs of production. This inevitably increases profitability, levels of output and
employment generation. When infrastructure works, productivity and labor increases.
When it does not work, citizens suffer, particularly the poor. Thus, economic renewal
and societal welfare become postponed or halted. According to the World Bank
(1997), the number of rural poor in Nigeria is roughly twice that of the urban poor.
The depth of poverty is more than double in rural areas. Rural areas in Nigeria
are generally deprived of the basic needs of life such as clothing, housing, medical
care, postal communication, education, transport facilities, recreation, neighborhood
amenities, credit facilities and horizon for self-improvement.
Studies in Nigeria show a high degree of inequality in income distribution
(Modupe 1986: 2; World Bank 1997: 8) and in the provision of socio-economic
opportunities and facilities between rural and urban areas (Mabogunje 1977; Stewart
1985) in which the rural area is less favored. According to the World Bank (1997),
the average per capita expenditure of a poor rural household in Nigeria was one-fifth
50
of the non-poor in 1992. Of the extremely poor, 85 percent lived in rural areas and
more than two-thirds of them lived on farms. The infrastructural delivery
arrangements at the local level point to the fact that the quality and quantum of
infrastructural facilities are far from satisfactory. One of the factors that explain the
appalling conditions of rural infrastructure in Nigeria is the type of administrative and
governance arrangements that the post-colonial independence leaders adopted. The
arrangements were too centralized. It separated the state structure of governance from
the people oriented institutions. Thus, there was (is) a wide gap between state and
society, as different cultural values prevail within the bureaucracy as against the rest
of society. Invariably, the public officials became Institutions within Institutions
existing without regards to the people. For instance, after independence, the Nigerian
government, confident of the powers and potentials of central government
departments to promote and mobilize development, eliminated all opposition to their
administration and abolished the three-tier system of local government that had some
connections with the indigenous institutions. Thus, the indigenous system of
governance that had robust attributes of people-centered democracy was denigrated.
Consequently, government attentions were directed at the few urban centers in terms
of infrastructures and government edifices, while rural areas were neglected. It has
been reported that the majority (90.0%) of the rural dwellers embarked on journey on
untarred rural roads and 84.0% of them traveled on bad roads, which consumed more
time than necessary. Since time is money, rural roads impoverished the rural dwellers
in Nigeria (Akinola 2003: 19). The official inadequacy in the provision of basic
facilities in rural areas of developing countries is not limited to Nigeria alone. Other
51
countries of the world, especially, developing countries (in Latin America, Asia, and
Africa) such as Bolivia, Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, and
Sri Lanka, to mention a few, have their own experiences of rural „neglect‟. A notable
experience in these countries is the adoption of self-help techniques by the affected
local people at providing the basic facilities in their respective communities.
The official inadequacy in the rural sector in Nigeria led the rural populace to
revive their old traditions and lay emphasis on collective action and shared strategies
to solve problems of infrastructural deprivation. Research findings in Nigeria confirm
the achievements of community-based institutions in the delivery of essential goods
and services (Olowu et. al. 1991; Akinola 2005; Adedeji and Onigu 1997).
Formation of cooperatives societies in the rural area is not a recent
phenomenon in the Nigeria economy (Otusanya 2004). It therefore become
paramount to undertaken the study of a cooperative societies which acts as a catalyst
to national development in particular and local government area economy in general.
52
REFERENCES
Ake, C. (1981). The Political Economy of Africa. London: Longman.
Ake, C. (1994). Democratization of Disempowerment in Africa, CASS Occasional
Monograph No. 1, Lagos: Malthouse Press.
Ake, C. (1996). The Marginalization of Africa. CASS Occasional Monograph No.
6, Lagos: Malthouse Press.
Akinola, S.R. (1991). “Self-Help Projects and Rural Development”: A Political
Perspective, paper presented at the Fourth National Conference on Political
Mobilization for a Stable Third Republic in Nigeria, organized by the Faculty
of Social Sciences, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, 9–11 December.
An unpublished journal
Anikpo, M. (1995), Poverty and the Democratic Process: The New Phase of
Mass Poverty in Contemporary Nigeria. Port Harcourt: University of
Port Harcourt Press.
Berbeshkina, Z. et.al (1985), What is Historical Materialism? Moscow;
Moscow Publishers.
Berko, S.Y. (1987).Self help Organizations, Cooperatives and Rural
Development. Enugu: Computer edge Publishers.
Brown, J. (2006), “Designing Equity Finance for Social Enterprises”, Social Enterprise
Journal, 2(1): 73 81.
Charles,G(2004),"Consumers'CoOperativSocieties",http://cooperativenetwork.coop/wm/educ
ation. Retrieved 10/24/09.
Cox, F. (1970). Strategies of Community Organization. U.S.A: Peacock Publishers.
Daily Sun, Tuesday, February 15th
2005, pp. 9.
Ekpenyong,S. (1993), Elements of Sociology. Lagos: African Heritage
Research and Publications.
Gutkin, P.C.N. et al (eds) (1976): The Political Economy of Contemporary
Africa. London: Page Publication.
Iain Mclean (eds) (1996). Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics. New York:
Oxford University Press.
Ijere, M.O (1990) .Promoting Women in Cooperatives. Enugu: Acena Publishers.
Madu, E.N. (1990), “Reading Mimeograph on Rural development”
53
Ndukwe C. (2005). Issues in Rural and Community development. Enugu: John Jacob
Publishers limited.
Ntete-Nna, N.J. (2004). Contemporary Political Analysis: An Introduction.
Owerri: Springfield.
Oakeshott, R. (2002), The Case for Worker Co-ops. Culled from http://www.cooperatives-
uk.coop/performancereview. Retrieved 10/23/09.
Oladipo, E.O. (1996), “Community Participation in Development”. A paper
presented at the UNDP/NPC seminar, Akure, 11 – 13th
March.
Olowu, D. et.al (eds) (1991). Local Institutions and National Development in Nigeri..
Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited.
Olowu, D., Ayo, S.B. and Akande, B. (1991). Local Institutions and National
Development in Nigeria. Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University.
Osita, Eze (1998), Africa: Democracy, Governance and Development in
Challenge of African Development. Port Harcourt: Center for Advance
Social Science.
Ridley-Duff, R. J. (2007) “Communitarian Perspectives on Social Enterprise”, Corporate
Governance: An International Review, 15(2):382-392.
Ridley-Duff, R. J. (2008) “Social Enterprise as a Socially Rational Business” , International
Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 14(5): 291-312 culled from
http://www.ica.coop/coop/principles.html. Retrieved 10/23/09.
Rothschild, J., Allen-Whitt, J. (2008) The Cooperative Workplace, London:Cambridge
University Press
Steven, Haggblade et.al (2007).Transforming the Rural Nonfarm Economy:
Opportunities and Threats in the Developing World. London: Johns Hopkins
University Press
Sullivan, Arthur; Steven M. Sheffrin (2003). Economics: Principles in action. Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey : Pearson Prentice Hall.
The World Bank (1975), Rural Development Policy Paper .Washington D.C.
54
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the description of tools and techniques adopted for the
investigation of the stated research problem. It covers research design, types of data
used, the sample and the procedure for sample selection and the instrument used for
data collection and analysis. It is expected that this pattern of research will fit our
purpose well.
In the light of the above, the researcher articulated the rudimentary
standpoints of this work by employing the primary and secondary methods of data
collection as our research methodology. The primary method will adopt a survey
design expounded by Osuala (1982:15) as follows:
Survey research studies both large and small populations
by selecting and studying samples chosen from the
populations to discover the relative incidence,
distribution and interactions of sociological and
psychological variables … survey research focuses on
people, the vital facts of people and their beliefs,
opinions, attitudes, motivations and behaviours.
55
3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
Nachimias and Nachimias (1985:76) and Onodugo(1990:6) view a research
design as part of research methodology, to be the blueprint that addresses the
problems of scientific enquiry. Thus, like in every other research work in
administrative sciences, and coupled with the fact that this study was intended to be
carried out in a rational and systematic manner, a survey design was employed.
Data collection was carried out across the various institutions, ministries and
government parastatals and agencies in Enugu State. This is to help give a holistic
approach for evaluating the roles of cooperative societies and its tremendous
influence in the rural development and socio-economic lives of the community of Udi
and Oji-River of Enugu State which appears to be the case under review. It also helps
in identifying key initiatives adopted by cooperative societies in enhancing growth
and development in areas such as poverty, education, agriculture, trade and
investments, funding and rural inputs among the rural populace.
3.3 SOURCES OF DATA
This study made use of a combination of both primary and secondary data.
The secondary is made up of already published information and journals in the areas
of cooperatives societies and rural development. The primary data on the other hand
is made up of information/data generated by the researcher through various kinds of
interview: key informant interview(KII), focus group discussion(FGD) etc. The
objective of using both primary and secondary data is to ensure that enough
theoretical background is set for the study by way of comprehensive literature search,
56
while the practical implication/realities of the above is assessed by way of field
survey for the collection of first hand information from the critical stakeholders.
3.4 POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The general population of this study comprises all the functional reregistered
cooperative societies in Udi and Oji-River Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
Number of Registered Cooperative
Udi 102
Oji 101
Total 203 Societies
However, as earlier stated that the number that will constitute the general
population will be that of functional cooperative societies. A high number of these
cooperatives in both local government areas are moribund and only exist on paper.
Table 1:Functional Cooperatives in Udi and Oji-River LGAs of Enugu state
LGA No of Societies No of Members
Udi 16 1584
Oji-River 11 273
Total 27 1,857
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008.
57
It is therefore pertinent to state that the total population of this study is one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven (1,857), made up of both local government
areas.
3.5 SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLYING TECHNIQUE
Using 1,857 as the total membership strength of functional co-operative
societies in Udi and Oji-River LGAs as shown in table 1 above as our finite number
(N), the sample size was calculated on the bases of the formular developed and
popularized by Taro Yamene in his text entitled Mathematics for economists: An
elementary survey and published in 1962 by: Prentice-Hall.
The formula is given as:
n = N
1 + N (e)2
Where:
n = the sample size
N = the finite population
e = level of significance
1 = Unity (a constant)
Using BODMAS, we calculated our value as follows.
n = 1857
1 + 1857 (0.05)2
= 1857
1 + 1857 (O.0025)
= 1857
1 + 4.64
58
= 1857
5.64
= 329.
The above necessitated the preparation of 329 copies of a structured
research questionnaire, which were administered on targeted respondents in the
selected communities of Udi and Oji-River LGAs,Enugu state .
Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of observations from among
many possible observations for the purpose of drawing conclusions about that larger
set of possible observations. It involves different ways of estimation (Nzelibe and
Ilogu, 1996:47, 126). Meanwhile the sampling method adopted in this study is the
judgment or purposive sampling. In choosing the elements for the sample using this
method, the researcher has a predetermined notion of what he thinks the elements to
be selected would be like so as to achieve the sets objective(s) (Nzelibu and Ilogu,
1996:130). Applying this sampling procedure, the researcher specifies what his
sample will be made up of in order to achieve the desired results.
Stratified random sampling technique was used for this study. This method
ensures that the sample is representative of the characteristics used to form the strata
(Osuala, 2001). In using this method, the percentage of respondent in each population
category is determined, and then the number of subjects needed in the sample
according to calculated percentages is computed. Simple random sampling method is
then applied to select the respondents from each population stratum (Afolabi, 1993).
59
With the sample size of 329 for the two LGAs, 165 respondents were drawn from
Udi LGA and 164 from Oji-River LGA respectively. Five cooperative societies were
equally randomly chosen for the administration of questionnaires among their
members. The sharing pattern was as represented in table 2 below.
Table 2: Cooperative societies and number of respondents chosen in Udi LGA
S/N Names of Society No. of Respondents
1 Umuagu FMCS Ltd 33
2 Obolieze Amokwe Okpatu FMCS 33
3 Chibuike Ngwo Uno Women FMCS 33
4 Ofuobi Nwanne Udi Women FMCS 33
5 Akpakwume Nze FMCS 33
Total number of respondents 165
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
60
In the same manner, five cooperative societies were equally randomly chosen
for the administration of questionnaires in Oji-River LGA. The sharing pattern was as
represented in table 3 below.
Table 3: Cooperative societies and number of respondents chosen in Oji-River
LGA
S/N Names of Society Number of Members
1 Ugoeze Akpugoeze FMCS Ltd 33
2 Oganiru Achi FMCS Ltd 33
3 Chibuike Obuna Inyi MCS Ltd 33
4 Igwebuike Inyi FMCS Ltd 33
5 Vision Oji-River MCS Ltd 32
Total number of respondents 164
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
3.6 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS AND METHOD OF
ADMINISTRATION
A structured questionnaire consisting of various items based on the four (4)
research questions formulated to guide the study was used to collect data for this
study. The structured questionnaire was considered appropriated because it is easy to
fill out, keeps the respondent on the subject of the study, is relatively objective, and is
fairly easy to tabulate and analyzed.
The designed questionnaire embodied 6 main sections. All items on the
questionnaire were scored on the basis of five (5) points using the Likert Scale
developed by Professor Rensis Likert (1908-1981) – (a) Strongly agree, (b) agree, (c)
undecided, (d) disagree, and (e) strongly disagree.
Though not entirely wholesome, the researcher made use of observation in the
course of this research. It is pertinent to observe as earlier stated that most of
61
registered cooperatives in both local government areas are moribund and some no
longer in existence. This knowledge helped in choosing co-operative societies that
were studied.
3.7 INSTRUMENT VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Validity refers to the degree or extent to which an instrument of measurement
actually measures what it is intended to measure. By implication, it seeks to ascertain
if the instrument employed has necessitated the attainment of intended objectives.
Therefore, an instrument is valid to the extent it is tailored to achieve research
objectives. The instrument used for this research was validated by ensuring that
questions were structured in a manner as to enable the researcher obtain requisite
qualitative and quantitative data that will aid the attainment of our research
objectives.
In order to maximize the reliability of the instrument used for this research,
the researcher ensured that questions were not ambiguously presented to respondents
as to give them the impression of different meanings or in a manner likely to
communicate different meanings that could generate inaccurate and inconsistent
responses. The researcher also maintained objectivity with no leading suggestions as
to the responses desired. A pilot survey was conducted to test the usefulness of the
instrument. This was also done specifically for the purpose of validity and reliability.
62
3.8 DATA ANALYSIS METHODS
Simple frequency tables are used in presenting questionnaires administered
as well as those collected and utilized in the analysis. Simple percentage (%) ratios
are also used in presenting the results of data collected.
Thereafter, the data is analyzed manually and hypotheses are tested with a
non-parametric statistical test instrument-the Chi-Square. In this study, the chi-square
method of analysis is applied to test the statistics in order to see if there is an
agreement between what is expected and what is observed/ calculated; and determine
the significance of such disagreement or agreement.
The chi-square is statistically denoted as:
X2 = (0 – E)
2
(E)
Where O = Observed frequency in each cell
E = the expected frequency in each cell
= Summing over all cells.
Df = Degree of Freedom
Formula for df = (r-1) (c-1)
Where r = number of rows in the frequency table
C = number of columns in the frequency table.
The test was carried out at a 0.05% level of significance. These take care of
our quantitative data.
63
The qualitative data is analyzed manually by looking at issues relevant to this
study. We critically examined common issues identified and highlighted by all
groups by looking out for homogeneity and dissent.
The issues involved are critically examined, sorted out manually, categorized
(look at in order of priority) and evaluated based on responses from our raw data.
Again, the research compares various case studies. In doing these, we did not seek
universal laws but regularities within a social (community) context. Armed with
these, the researcher was able to filter data and prioritize the needs and aspiration of
the people in order to advance an admissible conclusion.
Research questions 1-4 were analyzed using a five point Likert rating scale.
The mean of the response to each item was computed to indicate the opinion of the
respondents about that item. The mean score for each item was computed by
multiplying the frequency count of each response level with the corresponding value
of the response level and divided it by the number of response to each question
The mean is probably the most useful of all statistical measures; because it is
the base from which many others important measures are computed.
Response Categories Points Boundary Limits
Strongly Agreed 5 4.50 – 5.00
Agreed 4 4.00 – 4.49
Undecided 3 3.00 – 3.99
Disagreed 2 2.00 – 2.99
64
Strongly disagreed 1 1.00 – 1.99
Decision Rule
Based on the mean calculation for the research questions, any of the items
with a mean value of 3.50 and above was accepted, while any item with a
mean score below was rejected.
Hypothesis
The z-test statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of
significance. The z-test is essentially appropriate for testing about the
difference between means of two groups when the sample sizes are large as is
the case of this study.
65
REFERENCES
Afolabi, M. (1993), Introduction to Research Methods for Writing Proposals,
Projects and Thesis. Zaria: A.B.U Press.
Akuezuilo, E. O. (1993), Research Methodology and Statistics. Awka: Nuel Centi
Publishers.
Likert, Rensis (1908-1981) Scale. Culled from http//
www.en.wikipedia.org./wiki/Likert _Scale. Retrieved, 09/12/16
Nachimias, D and Nachimias, C. (1981). Research Methods in the Social Sciences.
New York: St Martins Press
Nwabuokei, P.O (2001). Fundamentals of Statistics. Enugu: Chuka Printing
Company Limited.
Nzelibe, C. G and Ilogu, G. C (1996). Fundamentals of Research Methods. Enugu:
Optional International Limited.
Onwura, A. E (1998). Introduction to Academic Research Methods., Enugu: Gostak
Printing and Publishers Company Limited.
Osisioma, B.C (2006). Research Methods and Thesis Writing: A Multi-Disciplinary
Approach. Enugu: HRV Publishers Onu-asata.
Osuala, E. C (2001). Introduction to Research Methodology. Onitsha: Africana FEP
publishers Limited.
Uzoagulu, A. E (1998). Writing Research Projects Reports. Enugu: John Jacob‟s
Classic Publishers.
Yomere, G.O and Agbonifoh, B.A (1999). Research Methodology. Benin City:
Centerpiece Consultant Nigeria Limited.
Yamane, T. (1962), Mathematics for economists: An elementary survey.
Englewood Cliffs, NY: Prentice-Hall.
66
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The secondary and primary data collected in the process of carrying out this
study are presented in this chapter. Also the data are subjected to empirical analysis
as a way of evaluating the research questions poised by the researcher in chapter one
of this work. As mentioned above, the method of data collection ranges solely from
both primary and secondary sources. For the analysis of the collected data, the major
emphasis was placed on the research problem in particular and the nature of the study
in general. Only this enabled precise presentation of results capable of representing
genuine tests and achievements of the research objectives. It also led to the findings
and conclusions that are true and logical reflections of the research problem.
The findings of this survey are adduced in form of conclusions and they are
predicated on the outcome of respondents‟ responses to questions asked in the
questionnaire or during FGDs and interview sessions. The data are presented in
frequency tables, which are followed by the researcher‟s explanations and discussions
of key findings or results to facilitate readership understanding. The first frequency
table is on return rates.
67
4.2 DATA PRESENTATION
Table 4: Return rate.
Respondents Oji-River Udi Total Percentage
Questionnaire dispatched
164
165
329
100
Questionnaire retrieved
157
155
312
95
Questionnaire discarded
during data cleaning due to
irregularities in the filling
process
4 3 7 2
Questionnaire utilized in the
final data analysis
154 152 306 93
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
Table 4 above shows that a total of 329 questionnaires were distributed in the
area of study. 165 and 164 questionnaires were distributed in Oji-River and Udi
LGAs respectively. These copies were administered among selected members of the
sampled co-operative societies. Out of these, 312 or 95% of the total number of
questionnaires were completed and returned. During the process of quality control
(data cleaning), the researcher discarded 4 and 3 copies of the questionnaire from Oji-
River and Udi LGAs respectively. This was occasioned by observed numerous
anomalies in the filling process. Consequently, the number of returned questionnaire
that were used in the final analysis were 306, which represented 93 percents of the
expected responses.
68
Table 5: Sex of Respondents
Sex No of respondents Percentage
Female 122 40
Male 184 60
Total 306 100
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
From Table 5 above, 122 representing 40 percent of respondents are female
while 184 or 60 percent of respondents are male. With this, we note quite certainly
that the greater percentage of responses will come from the male sex. Again, it is
obvious that female membership of co-operatives is comparatively lower than that of
their male counterparts.
Table 6: Age Brackets of Respondents
Age of respondent Total Percentage
18-35 years 81 27
36-55 years 139 45
56 years and above 86 28
Total 306 100
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
The above table is used to explain the age brackets that mostly identify with
the activities of co-operative societies in the communities under study. Our study
here has shown that those within the age bracket of 36-55 years are mostly
enthusiastic about the activities of co-operatives compared to other age brackets. A
total of 139 representing 45 percent of respondents who are co-operative members
fall into this age brackets. The table above also explains the fact that the older a
person gets; the less enthusiastic he is with regards to the operation and membership
of the co-operations. The same situation is with the youth as the percentage of youths
who are co-operative members is just 27 percent. Age thus is a determinant factor in
69
the membership of the co-operatives and the opinion of those within the age brackets
of 36-55 years will greatly dominate responses in this survey. Thus, we may be right
to infer here that the activities of co-operative societies are primarily shouldered by
the middle age men and women.
Research Question One
How and in what capacity have cooperative societies assisted her members?
TABLE 7: Responses on the level of assistance co-operatives offer her members
Item
No.
Item Statement SA A U D SD X
Decision
1 Most cooperatives societies
assist its members in
enhancing their socio-
economic status in the
society
129 111 27 29 10 4.09 Agreed
2 Most cooperatives societies
assist its members in
carrying out educational
programmes in mobilizing
host communities
27 59 91 29 100 2.62 Disagree
3 Most cooperatives societies
assist its members in
carrying out projects in the
communities under review
67 42 - 19 178 2.34 Disagree
4 Most cooperatives societies
seek governments support in
alleviating sufferings of its
members
132 76 19 69 10 3.82 Agreed
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
Table 7 above shows the mean distribution of opinions of cooperative
members on reasons why they are members of cooperative societies and the
assistance they derive from such associations. With regards to item one, the data
shows that 129 respondents strongly agreed, 111 agree, 27 were undecided, 29
disagree and 10 strongly disagree. The mean score is 4.09 is a strong indication that
majority of the respondents agreed that most cooperatives societies assist its members
70
in enhancing their socio-economic status in the society. On item two, 27 respondents
strongly agreed, 59 agreed, 91 were undecided, 29 disagree while 100 strongly
disagree. The low mean of 2.62 is an indication that majority of the respondents
strongly disagree with the proposition that most cooperatives societies assist its
members in carrying out educational programmes in mobilizing host communities.
With reference to item three, 67 of the respondents strongly agree, 42 agree, 19
disagree while 178 strongly disagree. The result shows a low mean score of 2.34
which directly implies that majority of respondents disagree that co-operative
societies assist its members in carrying out projects in the Udi and Oji- River LGAs
respectively. For item number four, the high mean of 3.82 depicts that respondents
are all in agreement that cooperatives societies seek governments support in
alleviating sufferings of its members.
Research Question Two
To what extent have cooperative societies encouraged members of the society
or community where they operate to adapt to an adequate saving pattern?
TABLE 8: Extent of cooperative societies’ encouragement to
members/community with respect to proper saving modalities. Item
No.
Item Statement SA A U D SD X
Decision
5 Cooperatives societies assist
its members in savings
management in Udi and Oji
River community
132 100 31 27 16 4.00 Agreed
6 Cooperatives societies in
both LGA solely depends
on borrowed funds which
they in turn lend to its
members
124 104 32 37 19 4.00 Agreed
7 Most cooperatives societies
assist its members in saving
towards a common purse
130 90 - 44 42 3.73 Agreed
8 Most cooperatives societies
encourage members of the
society to contribute to the
151 95 12 25 24 4.07 Agreed
71
capital base of the society.
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
Data presented in Table 8 above shows that on item five, a total of 132
respondents strongly disagree. The mean score of 4.00 is an indication that majority
of respondents agree that most cooperative societies encourage its members in
managing of its savings. On item six, 124 of the respondents strongly agree, 104
agree, 32 are undecided, 37 disagree while 19 strongly disagree. Again, the high
mean of 4.00 is an indication that majority of respondents strongly agree that most
cooperatives societies borrowed money from external sources which they in turn lend
to members of the cooperatives. With reference to item seven and eight, a greater
percentage of respondents strongly agree that cooperatives assist and encourage
members of the society to save in a common pulse as well as contribute to the capital
base of the society. The high mean of 3.73 and 4.07 respectively show that most
respondents consented to the assertion that cooperatives societies encourage members
of the society or community where they operate to adapt to an adequate saving
pattern.
72
Research Question three
What are the various roles played by cooperative societies in rural
development in Udi and Oji-River L.G.A?
Table 9: Roles played by cooperative societies in rural development in Udi and
Oji-River L.G.A Item
No.
Item Statement SA A U D SD X
Decision
9 Cooperative societies assist
its members in the provision
of farming inputs to boast
its agricultural production
75 111 32 44 44 3.42 Disagree
10 Cooperative societies in
both LGAs assist members
in land acquisitions for
agricultural purposes
141 78 15 49 23 3.87 Agreed
11 cooperative societies assist
its members in processing
and marketing agricultural
produce
98 102 21 45 40 3.56 Agreed
12 Most cooperative societies
inculcate in their members
the imperativeness of
ploughing back profit.
107 92 25 34 48 3.58 Agreed
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
Data presented in Table 9 above showed that on item nine, a total of 75
respondents strongly agree, 111 agreed, 32 are undecided, 44 disagree and 44 also
strongly disagree. On item ten, 141 respondents strongly agree, 78 agree, 15 are
undecided, 49 disagree while 23 strongly disagree. The high mean of 3.87 is an
indication that majority of respondents strongly agree cooperative societies in both
LGAs assist its members in land acquisitions for agricultural purposes
73
Research Question four
How do the cooperative societies educate its members in both Udi and Oji
River L.G.A?
Table 10: modalities adopted by cooperative societies in educating its
members
Item
No.
Item Statement SA A U D SD X
Decision
13 Cooperative Societies
organize visits by
government agricultural
extension officers.
114 105 20 33 34 3.76 Agreed
14 Cooperative Societies
organize workshop,
seminar, symposium and
lectures for members
61 62 53 83 47 3.02 Disagreed
15 Cooperative Societies,
NGOs, SHOs, CBOs
organize educational
programmes for members
51 65 32 94 64 2.48 Undecided
16 Cooperative societies in
conjunction with the
government provide
education for members
95 104 33 38 36 3.56 Agreed
Source: Researcher’s Field work, 2008
Data presented in Table 10 above shows that on item thirteen, a total of 114
respondents strongly agree, 105 agree, 20 are undecided, 33 disagree and 34 strongly
disagree. The mean score of 3.76 is an indication that majority of respondents agree
that most cooperative societies do organize visits by government agricultural
extension officers. On item fourteen, 61 respondents strongly agree, 62 agree, 53 are
undecided, 83 disagree while 47 strongly disagree. The low mean of 3.02 is an
indication that majority of the respondents strongly disagree that most cooperative
societies do organize workshop, seminar, symposiums and lectures for its members.
With reference to item fifteen, 51 respondents strongly agree, 65 agree, 32 are
undecided, 94 disagree and 64 strongly disagree. This development gives rise to a
74
mean value of 2.48 which shows they are on average undecided whether to agree or
not that Cooperative Societies in conjunction with NGOs, SHOs, CBOs organizes
educational programmes for members of the cooperatives. The mean 3.56 of item
sixteen in the date above shows many respondents agree that Cooperative societies in
conjunction with the government provide education for members.
4.3 TESTING THE HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
In this chapter, we have previously presented and analyzed our data in tabular
form. Values and percentage have been allocated to the number of respondents
through calculation.
Therefore, in testing the hypothetical assumptions, reference will be made
only to those questions and tables that are relevant to the supposition. The z-test
statistics is in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance at 502 level of
freedom. This is essentially appropriate because the z-test statistics test the difference
between means of two groups especially when the sample size is large as in our case.
Ho Co-operative societies have no tremendous impact on the rural development
and socio-economic lives of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu
State.
H1: Co-operative societies have tremendous impact on the rural development and
socio-economic lives of the community of Udi and Oji-River of Enugu State.
In this case the mean responses for Udi LGA will be donated by X0 and that of Oji
River by XE. SD0 represents standard deviation for Udi LGA and SDE standard
75
deviation for Oji River LGA. Data for testing the hypothesis is represented in table 9
above.
Table Z-critical = 1.96 at 0.05 level of significance.
TABLE 11: Z-test for mean responses on the roles and influences of cooperative
societies in the rural development and socio-economic lives
of the community of Udi and Oji River LGA
Item
No.
Item Statement X0 XE SDO SDE Z-cal Decision
1 Cooperatives societies
assist its members in the
provision of farming inputs
to boast its agricultural
production
2.16 1.81 0.92 0.87 4.24 Significant
2 Cooperative Societies,
NGOs, SHOs, CBOs
organizes educational
programmes for members
2.63 2.31 1.19 1.11 3.04 Significant
3 cooperatives societies assist
its members in processing
and marketing agricultural
produce
2.87 3.1 1.40 1.47 -1.77 Not
Significant
4 Cooperative societies in
conjunction with the
government provide
education for members
2.70 3.75 1.21 1.10 2.17 Significant
The Z-test analysis in the above table reveals that the calculated Z-values for one of
the item is less that the Z-critical values Therefore the null hypothesis was accepted
for item 3 in the table. However, calculated Z-values for the other three items are
greater than the critical values of Z. therefore, the null hypothesis for item one, two
and four in the table is rejected and the alternative hypotheses hereby accepted.
From the above table, the summary for the mean scores of items used for the analysis
of the hypothesis is presented below as table 12.
76
Table 10: Summary of the Mean Scores of items used for the analysis of the
Hypothesis.
Item Udi Local Government Area
N = 164
Oji River Local Government Area
N = 165
X1 SD1 X2
SD2
1 2.16 0.92 1.81 0.87
2 2.63 1.19 2.31 1.11
3 2.87 1.40 3.1 1.47
4 2.87 1.07 3.75 1.10
Total 11.64 4.58 11.5 4.33
By substitution:
Z = X1 – X2
SD12 + SD2
2
n1 n2
= 11.64 - 11.5
(4.58)2 + (4.33)
2
130 130
= 0.14
0.1613569 + 0.1442223
= 0.14
0.3055792
= 0.14
0.5527921 0.25
The mean score for the above item however shows that the null hypothesis was
accepted since the calculated Z-value is less than the Z-critical value.
77
CALCULATION OF Z- VALUE FOR THE HYPOTHESIS
1. Z = X1 – X2
SD2 + SD
2
N - 1 N – 1
= 2.16 - 1.81
0.922 + 0.87
2
129 129
= 0.35
0.0065612 + 0.0058674
= 0.35
0.012429
= 0.35
0.111485
Z-cal = 3.14
The mean null hypothesis was rejected since the calculated Z-value is greater than the
Z-critical value.
2. Z = 2.63 - 2.31
1.192 + 1.11
2
129 129
= 0.32
0.010978 + 0.0095511
= 0.32
0.020529
= 0.32
0.1433
Z-cal = 2.23
78
The mean null hypothesis was rejected since the calculated Z-value is greater than the
Z-critical value.
3. Z = 2.87 - 3.1
1.402 + 1.47
2
129 129
= - 0.23
0.015194 + 0.016751
= -0.23
0.03195
= -0.23
0.56524
Z-cal = -0.41
The mean null hypothesis was accepted since the calculated Z-value is less than the
Z-critical value.
4. Z = 3.98 - 3.75
1.212 + 1.10
2
129 129
= 0.23
0.011350 + 0.009380
= 0.23
0.02073
= 0.23
0.1440
Z-cal = 1.60
The mean null hypothesis was rejected since the calculated Z-value is greater than the
Z-critical value.
79
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
If findings of this research is anything to go by and if it can be likened to the
game of snakes and ladders, certainly there appears to be more snakes than ladders.
By this, the researcher means that there are more problems confronting cooperative
societies than perhaps any other business organization in the two local government
areas under study i.e. Udi and Oji-River Local Government Areas.
It is pertinent at this juncture to state that the dominant co-operative societies
in both local government areas are farmers‟ multipurpose cooperative societies. This
entails that both areas studied are agrarian in nature. Agriculture is the main stay of
their economy. Any effort by third parties like NGO‟s, CBO‟s, SHO‟s and even
governments must ensure that development of the areas must be based basically on
the area of agriculture where the people have competitive advantage.
Members of cooperative societies in Udi and Oji-River Local Government
Areas join cooperatives essentially to have a change in their socio-economic
conditions. This means that non-members of cooperatives will not join any
cooperative society unless there is a “cooperative effect” on the part of members of
the cooperative society. In an environment of ours where majority of the population
live below the poverty line, people will join cooperatives only when there is
improvement in the life of those who are members of cooperatives.
80
In Udi and Oji-River local government areas of Enugu State, many people or
inhabitants of the area do not belong to cooperative societies. Even few who belong
to cooperatives continue to drop out because of what the researcher had stated above-
absence of “Cooperative effect”.
It is heart warming however to note that cooperatives all over the local
governments studied imbibe the habit of savings or thrift on their members. This is
interesting because the basis of any positive socio-economic development of any
nation starts with saving more than consuming. And when these savings are
aggregated it forms a poll from where members can borrow. Economists affirm that
savings must be equal to investment. Therefore, the importance of savings especially
on a micro level for growth and development cannot be overemphasized.
At the same breadth, it is disheartening to note that most members of the
cooperatives in both local government areas have never received any form of loan
assistance from their society. The reason is not far-fetched. Most cooperatives are
moribund, and those operating are running at below full potential. One of the greatest
functions of cooperatives, especially those in agriculture or in the rural area is to
extend credit facilities to members. There is no way agricultural productivity could be
sustained without credit to acquire land, pay for farming inputs, pay for clearing the
ground, weeding of farm, buying labourers, processing, packaging, paying for even
marketing information and ultimately selling or shipping of goods oversees. As our
local street lingo says “Good soup, na money make am”.
Also, an impressing aspect of the issue relating to credit in cooperatives is that
credit usually granted by cooperative societies are difficult to divert into unproductive
81
ventures. They are usually monitored in the society. Closely related to this is the
vexatious issue of loan difficulty. It is usually difficult to default in repaying loan
granted by cooperative societies. This is because the society is down there with the
beneficiary at the primary level.
The world over, people form or join cooperatives because of what it can
accomplish for members. Udi and Oji-River local government areas are no exception.
Cooperative societies even though not optimally functioning still avail members of
some other opportunities. Majority members of cooperatives‟ members agree that the
institution helps them in affording fertilizers and other farming inputs. If only the
nation can stop paying lip service to issues pertaining to agriculture, cooperatives
present the best platform to jump start our agriculture, so that the nation can move
away from primitive farming implements like hoe, cutlass, etc. As experience
elsewhere shows, no nation can grow without involving the nomenclature of
cooperatives.
Because cooperatives provide the spring board where people of diverse breed
especially those who are socio-economically disadvantaged can meet, it affords
governments avenue to reach out to scattered peasant farmers dotted all over the
nation. So it is expected that government maximize this opportunity by providing
agricultural extension agents who teach farmers best ways of farming and new
agricultural practices so as to maximize their yields.
It is sad that many members of cooperative societies have never set eyes on an
extension agent. This probably account for why we continue to farm and tap our palm
82
wine the way our fathers did it two thousand years ago. This is indeed sad. The
societies are very weak.
Another picture of weakness on the cooperative movement is evidenced on
the near absence of cooperative education, training and information. Majority of
members agree that they have never had any form of seminar, conference or
workshop. The pioneers of cooperation, the Rochdale Equitable pioneers of 1844 had
to infuse education as a cardinal principle of cooperation way back during the
industrial revolution.
Without education, the cooperative movement is weak, ineffective and their
future is not guaranteed.The doom picture of cooperatives in Udi and Oji-River local
government areas of Enugu State can also be seen from the perspective that
cooperatives in these areas do not perform corporate social responsibility, otherwise
referred in cooperatives as concern for the community. The lawyers affirm “Nemo dat
qued non habet” meaning, “You don‟t give what you don‟t have. Cooperatives cannot
give anything to the community because they do not have anything to offer.
Members of the cooperatives in both local government areas understand their
difficulty so well; to this effect they believe that the greatest problem bedeviling them
is the issue of inadequate funding. Among measures positively addressing problems
associated with co-operatives in Udi and Oji-River local government areas are:
a) Increased government support by way of aids, grants, incentive etc.
b) Increased members share-holding.
c) Involvement of non-governmental organizations; and
d) Combination of the above.
83
5.2 CONCLUSION
The seven point agenda of President Umaru Musa Yar‟adua include
agriculture and rural transformation. Amidst this, it is evidence that the government is
million miles away from winning the war against hunger in Nigeria. Absence of a
well thought-out Cooperative role in the said agenda is a cardinal contributing factor
to this failure.
In a country where development is under pressure, formation and
sustainability of cooperative societies could obviously be a formidable factor in our
quests for development. All over the continent of Africa, Asia, South and North
America, Europe and Australia, Cooperatives derive their relevance not only in the
urban areas but also in the semi-urban and rural villages located thousands of miles
from the capital head quarters. Cooperative is practiced in metropolitan as well as in
cosmopolitan headquarters. The uniqueness of cooperative and its flexibility permits
it to be practiced among farmers, artisans, industrial and commercial workers, drivers,
market men and women, student, daily laborers etc. Membership of cooperatives cut
across men and women, the rich and the poor, the life rate and the illiterate, the might
and the low.
84
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Having critically examined and analyzed some of the major challenges
inhibiting the operation of cooperatives in our rural areas, it is pertinent at this point
that we proffer a number of suggestion that will aid in proper positioning of co-
operative for better results. Among these are:
i. Government should come out with a clear policy on cooperatives. There
should be a firm choice between state sponsorship without control, autonomy
of cooperatives without assistance and state sponsorship with control.
Cooperatives are still in their infancy in n Nigeria and must therefore be
sponsored without government control.
ii. Cooperatives should employ full-time employees and a properly co-
coordinated training programme drawn up for them.
iii. Government and its development partners should design an educational
programme whereby cooperatives would be taught at all levels of education as
an academic discipline-especially at primary and secondary schools so as to
catch or ignite the cooperative spirit early in life.
iv. An efficient organizational structure for the entire national cooperative
movement should be worked out so that the functional relationships between
cooperatives at various levels will be such that will improve on the efficacy of
the cooperative movement.
85
v. There must be sustained cooperative education in order to enlighten members
on their roles and to show the general public the important roles cooperatives
can play in their lives and the development process.
vi. The financial institutions should not be biased against cooperative societies.
Cooperatives should be assessed based on their own merit being a non-profit
making organization. The researcher however calls on the federal government
to enforce „circular 21 of 1991‟. This circular requires all banks in Nigeria to
give 20 percent of their net operating capital to agriculture and cooperatives.
This enforcement will no doubt turn things around in agriculture and rural
development sector.
vii. Adequate capital must be made available to cooperatives and possibly on soft
terms at least for some few years.
viii. There must be close working relationship between agricultural development
agencies and cooperatives.
x. The Fadama programme should not be allowed to fail.
86
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APPENDIX I
RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE
Institute for Development studies
University of Nigeria
Enugu Campus
7th
August, 2008.
Dear Respondent,
The Researcher is an MSc development Studies Students of the Institute for
Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. I am conducting a
research on the role of CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF OJI-RIVER AND UDI LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AREAS OF ENUGU STATE. The successful completion of this
survey is part of the requirements for the award of the Masters of Science (MSc)
degree in development studies of the institution.
The researcher will be most grateful if you can complete and return this
questionnaire at your earliest convenience. Please be assured that any information
given will be treated with the strictest confidence and will not be used for any
purpose deemed detrimental to your interest.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Yours sincerely,
OBODOECHI OSSY
(PG/MSc/06/46390)
91
SECTION I: BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Please tick (√) against the option that matches the answer of your choice.
Comment where necessary on the question asked.
1. Name of your community. ……………………………………..
2. Local Government Area. ……………………………………….
3. Your occupation
a. Civil servant
b. Farmer
c. Student
d. Business
e. None of the above
4. Your sex: Male Female
5. Your age: 18-30 31-50 51 and above
6. Marital status: Married Single
Divorce Widow
7. Do you have any knowledge about the activities of co-operative societies in your
community? Yes No Don‟t know
8. Are you a member of any co-operative society
Yes No
9. If yes, what is the name of your co-operative society
92
....……………………………………………….................
10. For how long has your co-operative society been in existence?
Less than 2 years between 2-4 years.
4-10 years above 10 years
11. How long have you been participating in the activities of the co-operative
societies?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Are you an active or passive member?---------------------------------------------------
14. Have you ever hold any leadership position in a co-operative society?
Yes No
SECTION 2: CAPACITY (IES) OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES TO
ASSIST HER MEMBERS
Instruction: Please tick appropriately against the option that best describes your
view to the under listed issues
1. Most cooperative societies assist its members in enhancing their socio-
economic status in the society.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
2. Most cooperative societies assist its members in carrying out educational
programmes and in mobilizing host communities.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
93
Agree
Strongly Agree
3. Most cooperative societies assist its members in carrying out projects in the
communities under review
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
4. Most cooperative societies seeks government‟s support in alleviating
sufferings of its members
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
SECTION 3: EXTENT TO WHICH COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES
ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OR COMMUNITY
WHERE THEY OPERATE TO ADAPT TO AN ADEQUATE SAVING
PATTERN.
5. Cooperatives societies assist its members in savings management in Udi and
Oji River community.
94
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
6. Cooperative societies in both LGAs solely depend on borrowed funds which they
in turn lend to its members.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
7. Most cooperative societies assist its members in saving towards a common
purse.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
95
8. Most cooperative societies encourage members of the society to contribute to the
capital base of the society.
.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
SECTION 4: VARIOUS ROLES PLAYED BY COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES
IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN UDI AND OJI-RIVER L.G.A
9. Cooperative societies assist its members in the provision of farming inputs to
boost its agricultural production.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
10. Cooperative societies in both LGA assist members in land acquisitions for
agricultural purposes.
Strongly Disagree
96
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
11. Cooperatives societies assist its members in processing and marketing agricultural
produce
.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
12. Most cooperative societies taught members the need to reinvest enough of their
profits into their various businesses
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
97
Strongly Agree
SECTION 4: MODALITIES ADOPTED BY COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES
IN EDUCATING ITS MEMBERS
IN BOTH UDI AND OJI RIVER L.G.A
13. Cooperative Societies organize visits by government agricultural extension
officers.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
14. Cooperative Societies organize workshop, seminar, symposiums and lectures.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
98
Strongly Agree
15. Cooperative Societies, NGOs, SHOs, CBOs organize educational programmes
for members.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
16. Cooperative societies in conjunction with the government provide education
for members.
Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Undecided
Agree
Strongly Agree
Please comment generally on the activities of co-operative societies in Enugu State
and how, in your opinion, they can be made to contribute significantly towards
poverty alleviation and rural development in
Nigeria.…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
99
…………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………
Thanks for your time and effort.
APPENDIX 2
Towns in Oji River L.G.A.
(1) Inyi
(2) Achi
(3) Awlaw
(4) Akpugoeze
(5) Ugwuoba
(6) Oji-River
100
APPENDIX 3
Towns in Udi L.G.A
(1) NACHI
(2) AMOKWE
(3) UMABI
(4) UMUAGA
(5) AGBUDU
(6) UDI-TOWN
(7) ABIA
(8) OBIOMA
(9) OBINAGU
(10) NSUDE
(11) NGWO
(12) EKE
(13) EBE
(14) ABOR
(15) UKANA
(16) AWHUM
(17) OKPATU
101
(18) UMULUMGBE
(19) UMUOKA
(20) EGEDE
(21) AFFA
(22) AKPAKWUME
(23) NZE
(24) OGHU
102
APPENDIX 4
POPULATION OF ENUGU STATE
S/NO L.G.A. POPULATION MALES FEMALES
1 Igbo-Eze North 259431 138006 121425
2 Igbo-Eze South 147328 78308 69020
3 Udenu 178466 87000 91466
4 Isi-Uzo 148415 72865 75550
5 Igbo-Etiti 209248 104162 105086
6 Nsukka 309633 149241 160392
7 Uzo-Uwani 124480 67622 56858
8 Ezeagu 169718 84053 85665
9 Udi 234002 115579 118423
10 Enugu East 279089 132816 146273
11 Nkanu East 148774 75119 73655
12 Enugu North 244852 121625 123227
13 Enugu South 198723 94461 104262
14 Nkanu West 146695 72326 74369
103
15 Aninri 133723 69765 63958
16 Awgu 198134 95421 102713
17 Oji-River 126587 65833 60754
Source: 2006 CENSUS ESTIMATE.