ABSTRACT
This research work was designed to see to the way the areas
could be developed through the co-operative society with Idah Local Government
Area of Kogi State as a case study, Oral interview were carried out, several
book were consulted and also, finding of registered co-operative societies and
number of their members were carried out. From the findings, it revealed that
those areas with co-operative societies gain more government attention than
those without co-operative societies. The study reveals that for a government
to achieve all round development empowering co-operative societies should be
given utmost attention.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Approval Page
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Abstract
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background
Of The Study
1.2 Statement
Of The Problem
1.3 Aims
And Objective Of The Study
1.4 Significance
Of The Study
1.5 Research
Questions
1.6 The
Scope And Limitation Of The Study
1.7 Definition
Of Key Terms
Reference
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Meaning
Of Co-operative Society
2.2 Characteristics
Of Co-operative Societies
2.3 Formation
Of A Co-operative Society
2.4 Types
Of Co-operative Society
2.5 Advantages
Of Co-operative Society
2.6 Benefits
Of Co-operative Society
2.7 Prospect
Of Co-operative Society
2.8 The Impact Of Co-operative Societies On Rural
Development.
2.9 Problem Faced By Co-operative Societies
In Rural Development
2.10 The Need For Re-engineering
2.9 Problem Faced By Co-operative Societies In
Rural Development
2.10 The
Need For Re-engineering Co-operative Societies.
Reference
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research
Design
3.3 Area Of
Study
3.4 Population
Of the Study
3.5 Sample
And Sampling Techniques
3.6 Sources
Of Data Collection
3.7 Instrument Used For Data Collection
3.8 Test For Validity And Reliability Of Research
Instrument
Reference
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Presentation Of Data
4.3 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
Bibliography
Appendix
Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
1.1
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The problem of developing the rural area has
received the attention of many experts and researchers as well as the
government. This is because it
constitutes a serious bottleneck to the socio-economic development of the
country as well as the communities. It
is in the light of this, that I have decided to examine how rural areas would
be developed with the help or assistance of co-operative societies using Idah
local Government as the case study.
Rural
development according to Diejomoah (2003) is “ The process of not only
increasing the level of per capital income in the rural area but also the
standard of living of the rural population measured by food and nutrition
level, health, education, housing, recreation and security. Also Rural
development according to UNO (1960) is “The process by which the effort of he
people themselves are United with effort that of government authorities to
improved the economic social and cultural conditions of the rural communities
to integrate those community into life of the nation and to enable them
contribute meaningful to national development.
Therefore,
Rural Development is an integration activity involving the Implementation of
programmes of agriculture, health, education, home management, provision of
infrastructure and other community facilities under the supervision of the
government, its agencies and the local people.
Co-operative
society is one of the principal agent of rural development. It is not only an avenue for job
opportunities, but also as a training ground for the rural dwellers and other
society and economic benefits. Hence, it
is a strong factor in the nations economic development.
Helms
(2005) on the other hand defines co-operative society as an association of
persons who have voluntarily joined together to have a common end through the
formation of a democratically controlled enterprise, making equitable
contribution to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risk and
benefit of the undertaking in which the member activity participate. On the other hand it could be seen as a
voluntarily association of persons having mutual ownership in providing
themselves some needed service on non-profit basis usually organized as a legal
entity to accomplish objectives through joint participation of its members.
As it
is, the problem faced by the rural dwellers in Nigeria today is complex. It is those in he rural areas who have to
produce not only enough for their families but also for industries and urban
population. They also have to produce cash
crops either for processing by local industries or for export. Still they lack the basic necessities of
life.
Co-operative
is a vital issue in every community in this world. Place where it has been properly put into
effective operation, its members have greatly achieve something from it. Idah Local Government area is one of the area
where co-operative societies have improved the live of its citizens.
Hence
assistance should be given to the rural people e.g. Idah people so as to enable
them improve politically, economically, socially and otherwise through
co-operative societies.
This
project therefore, intends to examine rural development, discuss or diagnose
strategies adopted by coo-operative societies in developing rural areas. Examine the problem areas if coo-operative
societies and to provide recommendation or solution to the problem so far
identified.
1.2 STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Perhaps, one of the greatest problem confronting Rural
Development today is the lop sided and unbalanced development of their
environment and how best to improve the living standard of the rural
dwellers. It is not in correct to state
that the gross unbalance and inequalities in the level of development between
the rural and urban areas of Nigeria is enormous taking Idah local government
area for example. Inspite of all the
orchestrated policies and programmes of successive government in Nigeria. The problem of rural backwardness and under –
development has remained unresolved.
This is evident in the persistence of agriculture stagnation, hunger,
poverty, disease, unemployment, poor housing, under-employment, poor
infrastructure facilities. Most of our
rural areas also suffer from inadequacy of social services, high birth rate and
death rate, low life expectance, malnutrition and Ignorance, lack of
productive, technical and managerial skill to improve production.
In
the light of these problems, the researcher is therefore boarded and wants to
probe into the activities of co-operative societies to know whether they are
contributing towards the development of our rural areas with a particular focus
on Idah Local government area of Kogi |State.
The
researcher also intends to investigate the impact of co-operative societies on
rural development by identifying the above mentioned phenomenon and to know the
prospect and problems encounted by co-operative so cities in their attempt to
develop the rural dwellers.
1.3 THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of the study is to examine the
contribution of co-operative societies to the development of Idah Local
Government Area.
The
specific objectives are as follows:
1. To
identify or determine whether co-operatives societies have contributed to the
development of rural areas in Idah Local government Area.
2. To
find out the financial problem areas affecting the contribution of co-operative
societies to the development of Idah Local Government Area.
3. To
determine the impact of the strategies design and adopted by co-operative
societies in rural development/
4. Make
recommendation on ways towards ensuring greater success of co-operative
societies in future.
1.4 THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study
intends to achieve the following objectives.
1. Help
in educating the farmers and the entire rural dwellers on the importance of
co-operative societies.
2. Also
at the end of the research work, the general public would have gained a lot of
knowledge on the importance of co-operative societies.
3. The
study will also be significant to future researchers on the facts of rural
areas.
4. Also
helps to discover, problems of co-operative societies and provide
recommendation to the problem identified.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION
The
following questions are to guide the researcher towards finding out the
solutions related to the problems, objective and the question of research.
1. Do co-operative societies play vital role
in the development of rural areas?
2. Do financial problem hinder the activities
of co-operative societies.
3. How helpful are government and financial
institutions in enhancing the activities/ roles of co-operative societies?
4. Do you think co-operative societies provide
infrastructures towards the development of rural areas?
5. Do you consider the training of c-operative
personnel important towards enhancing their performance as an instrument of
development?
1.6 THE
SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
It is a know fact that development is not confined
to any particular area but all over the globe.
However,
this study focuses its attention on the development of rural areas through the
effort of co-operative societies with reference to Idah Local Government Area
in Kogi State. Hence the type of
co-operative societies, role, prospect and problems would be looked into with particular
emphasis to Idah Local Government Area.
The
Limitation of the study among other things include time constraints, lack of
enough funding and lack of access to adequate data a regards to the topic under
study etc.
1.7 DEFINITION
OF KEY TERMS
It is important to give a brief definition of the
following key terms, in order to know the meaning of the key concept and some
words in the research project.
1. DEVELOPMENT:
According to Todarro 1977, he defines development
as a many sided process involving changes in structure, institutions and
attitude as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction in
inequality and eradication of hunger and poverty in a given society.
2. RURAL
AREAS:
An area,
which is so backward in terms of social amenities and other materials found in
urban areas.
3. RURAL
DEVELOPMENT
Rural Development in a multi dimensional process
by which productivity, income and welfare in terms of health, nutrition,
education and other features of satisfactory life of rural people can be
improved or transformed.
4. CO-OPERATIVES
As association of persons usually of limited means
who have come together to achieve a common economic goal through equitable
contribution.
5. DIRECTIVE
APPROVACH
This
top-bottom approach in any rural setting is where agencies either local government,
state government and federal government tries to identify the felt-need of
people in the community. This approach
comes in when there is lack of human and material resources, provision of
technical know-how for the community development. Introduction of new method in education,
weaving modern system of farming for rural people.
6. NON-DIRECTIVE
APPROACH
The
people of the community identify their own felt – need i.e. their duty to plan
for action and also implement it.
Government/ Philanthropists do not come in but they can seek advice in
terms of technicality. It is usually
applied to developed society or rural areas that have adequate human, material
resources.
7. MID-WAY
APPROACH
This is a situation where by the people of the
community and the agencies identify their own felt –needs by providing human
and material resources. More emphasis is
given to the p
