THE IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETY IN EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN

THE IMPACT OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETY IN EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN

[A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN CHIKUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT]

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page

Declaration

Certification or approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of content

CHAPTER ONE

1.0        Introduction

1.1        Background of the study

1.2        Statement of problem

1.3        Objective of the study

1.4        Research question

1.5        Significance of the study

1.6        Scope of study

1.7        Definition of term

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review

2.0        Review of Related literature review

2.1        The concept of cooperatives

2.2        Women in cooperatives

CHAPTER THREE

3.0        Methodology

3.1        Study Area

3.2        Population, sample size and sampling procedure

3.3        Method of data collection

3.4        Method of data analysis

3.5        Limitation of study

CHAPTER FOUR

Data presentation and interpretation

4.1    Data presentation, analysis and interpretation

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0    Summary, conclusion and recommendation

5.1    Summary of the major findings

5.2    Conclusion

5.3    Recommendation

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The value of cooperative as an effective channel of rural transformation is widely recognized in advanced and less developed countries. In Nigeria, for instance, government objective state since 1920, the use of cooperative societies, particularly for socio-economic development of rural areas.

Presently cooperative is almost a universal form of organization found in most countries of the world and used by people in many ways for the supply of farming and fishing equipment, purchase of production equipment e.t.c. the ways in which cooperative idea can be beneficial to people in their every needs of life is unlimited, cooperative consist of the following:

1.           To provide the necessary and desirable services of the people concerned

2.           To engage in business with the motive of service instead of profit maximization

3.           To operate on the basis of self-help where the people involved look towards themselves as a group for the solution to their problems

4.           The group of people who have come together to do something that could be difficult for an individual to implement if he is alone

5.           Cooperative helps to prevent exploitation by engaging members in agricultural processing

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1.     They have low productivity because they have no access to farm inputs

2.     Rural women do not have enough money to meet their needs because the lack access to loan.

3.     Rural women have been neglected by men in terms of membership to cooperative leadership and decision making due to lack of awareness

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1.     To know the extent through which cooperatives, and rural women can gain access to loan facilities which will enable them to meet their needs

2.     To know how this rural leaders in cooperative can bring out the potentials in rural women through training and exposure

3.     To determine how cooperative will help the rural women to increase their productivity, thereby increasing their food security

4.     To identify the problem facing rural women in cooperative societies

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

        The research questions are as follows;

1.           What are the factors that influence rural women in joining the cooperative societies?

2.           What are the functions of cooperatives?

3.           To what extent can rural women have access to finance through cooperative societies?

4.           What are the problems facing women cooperative societies in the rural areas?

5.           What are the possible solutions to the problems of women cooperative societies in rural areas.

1.5   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study views the impact of cooperative societies in empowering of rural women. The effort is to see best of manage cooperative societies properly, also the study covers the background of the cooperative society right from its incorporation in 1985. The major significance factors against this study are:

Lack of adequate statistical data formation and due to confidential of the cooperative societies records.

Another significant factor to the research was, the staff where referring respond adequately to the researcher. With  the above future researcher would find it much easier if these problems are taken not of the view of finding period solution to them.

1.6   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The area of the study is based on the impact of cooperative societies in empowering of rural women towards the improvement and development of cooperative members satisfaction as a result of being a member of a cooperative societies. The area covered includes, Chikun, Kujama, Kajuru, Kasuma Magani e.t.c.

1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.     COOPERATIVE BYE-LAWS: This means the registered law made by a society in the exercise of any power conferred by the northern Nigeria cooperative bye-laws of 1956 and includes any registered amendment thereof (such as decree 90 of the 1993 of Babangida administration)

2.     REGISTRAR: This means the registrar of cooperative societies appointed under the section (B) of the Nigeria cooperative law of 1956 or decree 90 of the 1993.

3.     MEMBERS: These are the people admitted into membership after registration in accordance with the rules and regulations of the bye-law

4.     COOPERATIVE SOCIETY: It is an association of persons who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a common and economic end or goal, through democratically controlled organization.

5.     COOPERATIVE PRACTICE: They are method of implementing the principle of cooperative societies.

6.           DEMOCRACY: This means each member of the cooperative society have are vote regardless of the number of the share he has in the society.

7.           DIVIDEND: It is part of money being regarded as gain or profit in the cooperative societies.

8.           OFFICER: This means officials of the society and it includes the president or other person empowered under the regulations, i.e chairman, secretary, treasurer, members of the committee to give directives in regards to the business of a registered society.

9.           COMMITTEE: This is the governing body of a registered society to whom they live where the society is entrusted.

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

The literature review in this research work will be approached in the following perspective:

a.   The concept of cooperative

b.   Women in the cooperative

2.1 THE CONCEPT OF COOPERATIVES

Cooperatives have been defined in diverse ways by various people and writers for different purpose. How ever some of these definitions in this thesis. The oxford advance learners dictionary (2002) defined cooperatives as a group of persons acting working together with another or either for a common purpose.

According to Mr. Tongyi (1999) Kaduna Polytechnic a lecturer in the department of social development and cooperatives studies defined cooperative as an association of persons and usually of limited means who voluntarily have joined together to achieve a common economic end through formation of a democratically controlled business organization such persons as associates make equitable contribution to the capital required and accept fair share of benefits and risks of their undertaking.

Also a hand book of MANSER (1973) define cooperative as an association of persons who have voluntarily joined together to achieve a common end 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 members undertaking in which members actively participate. Informative types of cooperative are as old as the primitive man. Anywhere people voluntarily come together with the sole aim of achieving a collective economic goal, they actually form a simple cooperative society. Modern cooperative society have its root in England during the industrial revolution era where machines where been replaced with manual labour (human labour).

The first cooperative societies were organized by working men who  were seeking to change the hard situation which emerged through the factory production which began in England about two hundred (200) years ago, which was later adopted by other countries of the world today.

The success of the early cooperative societies attracted the full attention of Nigeria government. The government decided to consolidate the ground earlier gain. In respect of this, a cooperative expert Mr. C.F. Strict land was appointed to tour the country and also to achieve on the prospects of developing cooperative in the country. In an attempt to form a definite cooperative policy, the essential futures of cooperatives society and guided by his Indian experience Mr. C.F. Strictland, purposed that cooperative objectives in Nigeria were to be as comprehensive flexible and possible. He drafted the cooperative ordinance, which was passed in to law on 3^rd December 1935.

A registrar was also appointed and assisted by a senior civil servant to re-organize the societies in accordance with provision of the ordinance. An out famous cooperative department was in the International Labour Organization (I.L.O), 1977 and also sees the definition of cooperatives as defined above by MANSER that is, cooperative is an association of persons usually of limited means, who have voluntarily joined together to achieved a common  economic and through the formation of a democratically organization, making a equitable contribution to the capital required and accepting a fair share of all from the definitions given above by the writers can identify at least five element that determine the structure of cooperative form of organization they are:

1.           The organization is democratically administered

2.           The main objectives of the group is to perform service for the promotion of the economic situation of the members of the group

3.           The group of persons has at least one economic interest in common

4.           The mechanicalism to achieve the groups objective to established a common enterprise on the basis of this features, many organizations that are Muslims cooperatives societies in Nigeria are not in the real sense of the world. This is because the organization do not have or possess the real attributed of cooperatives despite the fact such societies by the government, main objective of members is to share the facilities that may be allocated to the societies by the government. The motive of self reliance is totally absent in these organizations.

According to the Internationally Cooperative Alliance (I.C.A), 1995. Cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspiration through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. This definition gives the most relevant characteristics to get a new cooperative namely:

1.           An autonomous body is free government or external control and domination

2.           It is an association of persons and not capital that is interest of the members must come before that of capital

3.           The benefit must be shared equitable

4.           The means of achieving this objective is a business enterprise with a sit-up that is economic element

5.           The objectives of the group is to meet members needs in the field of economic social and cultural aspiration

6.           The enterprise is jointly  owned, cooperative begins with common ownership

7.           Having acquired a new awareness through cooperatives education, membership is voluntarily

8.           The enterprise must be democratically controlled irrespective  of financial consideration

According to Ireyora L. Ihimodu (1988) he said that many governments has encourage the formation of cooperative societies in their respective countries. They had addition continued to assist them with all kinds of facilities to the extent of not allowing them to indicate the self-help motive. According to Mallam Yahaya  Ibrahim (1990) cooperative was not only meant  to serve the economic interest of their member, but are more importantly meant to serve as a training ground where members learn to work with others to practice democratically and acquire individual proficiency and skills which they can direct to the common good.

Cooperatives societies should serve as a training ground for members, and not far their economic interest alone. Members are suppose to learn how to work together to improve their skill. A great number of cooperative societies have collapsed in different parts of the country because they lack cooperative education.

Mr. J.N.P. (1983) stated that “in the early 19^th century when the pre-Rochdale cooperative societies were formed they all collapsed for various reasons which include lack of cooperative education. In view of this fact, the Rochdale equitable pioneers decided to pay greater attention to what rules of life, which in course of time matured into an acceptable principle of cooperation all over the world. The Rochdale set out a sum of money for giving cooperative education to their member committees, officers and even their employees.

According to states men (1990), in many countries, the growing influence of cooperatives had been low. But in most developed countries especially V.S.S.R. and Britain the reverse is the case, the states men said that “ as practice has shown that cooperative in many countries is an important  instrument that helps the government in attaining its goals in the share of a grayish reforms in production, ensuring supplies of commodities in the accomplishment of cultural transformation.

Paul Looy (1926) stated that Adlaie Stevenson former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations ones said that “cooperatives stand today as the zealous guardians of genuine economic freedom and individual enterprises, so essential in truly democratic society.

According to Mr. Enyeribe Onuoha (1986) “ cooperatives education in absolute is absolutely essential for the success of the cooperative movement anywhere. A cooperative cannot rise above the level of understanding of its members, if cooperative education is taking in all its breath to include members education, staff-training and public relation, it can be life blood of cooperation. Its objective is three-fold to produce enlightened and responsible members, efficient  staff and a favourable public opinion.

Frauz Helen (1985) analyses the motives voluntarily membership that it may include an individual to join a cooperative as being either economic rational or sociological emotional

2.2     WOMEN IN COOPERATIVES

Most of the literature review written about cooperative organization was framed on general forms of cooperation, no isolation of women in cooperative organization. This made it difficult to lay hand on nay book written on women cooperative movement from where a comprehensive movement from where a comprehensive movement literature review may be obtained and the few books written were about African women in general or international. Women are half world population. They comprises one third of the third of the world’s working hours, for this they earned on tenth of the world’s income but they owned only one percent of the world property (U.Ns. mid decade conference in higher Compeningen Demark).

However, professor T.O. Adekenye has made am extensive research an women in his report about women in the development of agricultural cooperatives in Nigeria and he wrote as follows:

1.           They did most things together

2.           Even though there were division base on sex and age group, there was respect for each other and these individuals were treated equally

3.           Historically and traditionally many societies in Africa lived communally

Daniel K. Adedzwa (1988) mobilization of women for rural development said that “ women constitution the bulk of the cheap labor  force and are largely responsible for subsistent agricultural production  in the rural areas.” They often labour from down till dust on weeding, harvesting, during storage of grain and food processing. They are responsible for fetching water and fine wood for fuel, feeding their families. Above all they are mothers and transmitters of community tradition. The performance of African women I general as regard to the development of agriculture will be clearly seen as shown in the table below:

        PERFORMANCE IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA:

ACTIVITES	WOMEN	MEN
House work	95%	5%
Manual work	70%	30%
Harvesting	60%	40%
Tending domestic animals	50%	50%
Sowing and planting plugging	30%	70%

From (U.N. hand book on women in Africa 1975). Journal, (1984) “women in development, said for women to become a vital force in their societies, change will have to be based on a new theory of development which embraces feminism. Except there is a better understanding of how both patriarchy and economic system propagate oppression not effective and inclusive work on bringing about a new order can be done. If a greater development is to be achieved then the role of women should be seen as great and upheld by men. There should be the acceptance by there should be a trademark spirit.

According to the international council for rural women (1981), women reproductive and home production roles are the target for programme intervention, on the assumption that the prevailing sexual division for labour in the third world makes it more efficient to allocate development investment to women in the house makers”. Chief Biola Dosomo strengthens the role of Nigeria women on agriculture and rural development.

A paper presentation at the national worship (1986) said that for the down of history, women has always been man’s counter part. Her role is not that of a rival but of a councilor and a comforter. In thee rural areas women employ their husbands and men folk in the fields. Their duties are not just terminated in the kitchen. When the environment was beautiful, women gather fire woods for sale to argument their husband’s modest income. In addition, they helped in harvest periods and subsequently sold form products in their neighbor ring market.

       

It is an obviously fact therefore that since the begging of time, women have been at greater importance to development. They do not work just for enjoyment but masterful or dedication. Become, a director general of F.A.O. in the African training and research for women economic commission for Africa (United Nation 1970); observed that the importance of encouraging women participation so as to increase the economic of the nation been a developing country. He said that it is very important t observe that most of the problems we have being facing for years would no become serious as they have, if in tackling then we had concerned ourselves more with the women if the developing world.

It is because of the strong influence the women have their daily activities. Women are particularly effective in bringing about change in the nation as a whole. Therefore, the realization of the importance of women cooperative movement, winch is widely accepted as the most rural oriented socio-economic development in the country today.

       

According to professor J.Y. Yayak (1990) reported in the democratic that: “women has contributed towards agricultural development, through involvement in crop production harvesting, processing, storage  and marketing as well as running may self-reliance cottage enterprise such as dying, knitting and livestock.  

CHAPTER THREE

3.0   RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter represents the general studies of the research design on which the study will be conducted. It includes population of the study, the sample and sampling procedures, instrumentation, method of data collection and analysis.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The study adopted the survey method which will enable the researcher to carry out the scattered in some selected cooperative societies in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna

3.1   STUDY AREA

Chikun Local Government Area is one of the local government within Kaduna State. It was created out of the Kaduna North Local Government Area by the president and commander –in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in 1989. Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State is populated with (298, 140) Two Hundred and fourty with a landmark of about (7, 174km) square.

Majority of the inhabitants of chikun local government area re professionally farmers with little numbers of civil servants. This is because the land is  very fertile, which attracted higher population of the area to engaged in farming.

Generally, Chikun Local Government area is one of the Agricultural producing area in Kaduna, some of the agricultural products produce are rice, beans, yam, guinea corn, maize, soya beans e.t.c. it has a conducive atmosphere which help the farmers to have a greater harvesting period. Besides the farming which stands as a major occupation in the area, the people also engage in hunting during the drying season, rearing of livestock such as goats, pigs, chickens and cattle, they also engaged in the making of handcraft.

The female folk assist the men on the farming and also the domestic activities. Chikun local government has a good road network which links to the headquarters. It has some infrastructural facilities such as electricity, portable water, hospitals and schools which takes care of the people. Most of the people practice Christianity, there are few Hausa’s and Fulani’s who therefore, have their pretty trading in order to earn for living.

3.2   POPULATION, SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURE

The research population is used to describe the total number aggregate of all units and division which by virtue of common features may lead to the abstinence of the most relevant data needed. Therefore, the research population here covers some selected cooperative societies and its membership. Below are names of some selected cooperative societies:

Some selected cooperative societies in Chikun Local Government Area

S/N	COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES	POPULATION
1	Alheri Women Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Buruku	100
2	N.N.P.C Multipurpose Cooperative Society	100
3	Sabon Gari Multipurpose Cooperative Society S/Tasha	150
4	Nagarta Multipurpose cooperative Society Television	100
5	Alheri Motor Cyclist Multipurpose coop. Soceity, U/Boro	130
	Total	580

The sample size of the research work is (80).

3.3   METHOD OF DATA COLLECTIONS

The method of data collection employed by the researcher is the questionnaire method. The questionnaire is a list of research questions designed by the researcher to collect information on a survey available records. These information obtained from existing published or unpublished sources. Information obtained from this research is normally regarded as secondary source.

3.4   METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

Frequency table and percentage are used to present data collected during the research.

3.5   LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

1.     Time Factor: Due to time factor the researcher will not be able to fulfill the objectives more accurately as a visit to some cooperative societies.

2.     Transportation: The researcher is faced with lack of funds to allowed him/her go about getting enough information to carry out the project work the local government.

3.     Inadequate reports: The financial reports does not come as regular as it suppose to be given, no proper information within the workers.

4.     Attitudes of some officers; (a) lack of coming to office (b) lack of commitment to work

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0   DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYIS AND INTERPRETATION

This chapter contains facts that had been collected from questionnaire, interview and observation by the researcher for the purpose of this research work.

Tables are used to represent the data collected. Below are the analysis;

TABLE I: MARITAL STATUS

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Married	54	67.5
Single	23	28.75
Divorced	3	3.75
Total	80	100

Table 1 above shows that 67.5% of the respondents are married, 28.75% are single and 3.75% are divorced this implies that majority of the respondents are married.

TABLE II: OCCUPATION

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
farming	36	45
Trading	24	30
Civil servant	20	25
Total	80	100

Table II above shows that 45% of the respondents are farmers, while 30% are traders and 25% are civil servants. This implies that majority of the respondents are famers in the area of study.

TABLE III: SEX DISTRIBUTION

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Male	0	0
Female	80	100
Total	80	100

Table III above shows that 100% of the respondents are women.

This implies that all the respondents are women.  So men to be encourage to join cooperative societies of their choice.

TABLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
YES	80	100
NO	0	0
TOTAL	80	100

Table IV above shows that 100% of the respondents have to agreed that they are members of cooperative society. It is therefore, encourage most people are aware of cooperative activities.

TABLE V: DURATION OF MEMBERSHIP

VARIABLES	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
One year	13	16.25
Two years	28	35.00
Three years	20	25.00
Four years	10	12.5
Five years	9	11.25
Total	80	100

Table V above shows that 16.25% of the respondents have being in the cooperative society for the period of one year, 35% have joined cooperative for the period of two years, 25% joined cooperative for the period of three years, 12.5% have joined the society for four years, and 11.25% have been members for five years. This implies that majority of the respondent have being in cooperative society for two years.

TABLE VI: ACCESS TO FINANCIAL (LOAN)

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Strongly agreed	43	53.75
Partially agreed	23	28.75
Not decided	2	2.5
Strongly disagreed	4	5
Disagreed	8	10
Total	80	100

Table VI above shows that 53.75% of the respondent strongly agreed that rural women can have access to financial aid through cooperative while 28.75%are partially agreed and 2.5% have no option also 5% of the respondents strongly disagreed while 10% disagreed. This implies that majority of the respondent strongly agreed that through cooperatives, rural women can have access to financial aid cooperative development.

TABLE VII: MANAGEMENT OF LOAN

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Yes	80	100
No	0	0
Total	80	100

Table VII above shows that 100% of the respondent agreed that loan granted to women cooperative society can be managed.

TABLE VII: USE OF LOAN

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Harvestment	17	21.25
Agricultural production	20	25
Agricultural marketing	20	25
Community development	23	28.75
Total	80	100

Table VIII above shows that 21.25% of the respondent said that loan can be use for investment, 25% said agricultural production, 25% also said agricultural marketing while 25.75% said community development. this implies that majority of the respondent are with the opinion that loan granted to women cooperative societies can be used for community development.

TABLE IX: SOURCES OF LOAN TO WOMEN IN SOME SELECTED SOCIETIES

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Financial institution	27	33.75
Cooperative society	38	47.5
Friends and relations	4	5
Government grant and subsidies	11	13.75
Total	80	100

Table IX above shows that 33.75% of the respondents said that some selected cooperative societies in rural women source their loan through financial institution, 47.5% said cooperative society and 5% said through friends and relations, while 13.75% said through government grant and subsidies. This implies that majority of the respondent are of the opinion that women in cooperative societies get their loan through cooperative society.

TABLE X: LEADERSHIP

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Yes	65	81.25
No	15	18.75
Total	80	100

Table X above shows that 18.25% of the respondents agreed that the leadership position of the society can encourage women to join cooperative society, while 18.75% said No. This implies that majority of the respondent are with the leadership position can encourage more women to join cooperative society.

TABLE XI: PRODUCTIVITY OF THE RURAL WOMEN

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Yes	77	80.25
No	3	3.75
Total	80	100

Table XI above shows that 96.25% of the respondents agreed that the productivity of the rural women can be improve while 3.75% are not in agreement. This implies that majority of the respondent are of the opinion that the productivity of the rural women can be improved.

TABLE XII: HOW TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE RURAL WOMEN

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Micro-credit finance	15	18.75
Vocational training	35	43.75
Formation cooperatives	10	12.5
All of the above	20	25
Total	80	100

Table XII above shows that 18.75% of the respondents said that the productivity of the rural women can be improve through micro-credit finance. 43.75 said vocational training, 12.25% said through formation of cooperatives, while 25% said all of the above. This implies that majority of the respondent are saying that the productivity of the rural women can be improved through vocational training.

TABLE XII: ASSESSMENT OF SOME SELLECTED COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Excellent	21	26.25
Very good	36	45
Poor	10	12.5
Very poor	13	16.25
Total	80	100

Table XII above shows that 26.25% of the respondents said excellent, 45% said very good, 12.5% said poor and 16.25 said very poor. This implies that majority of the respondent are saying that some women selected cooperative societies is a very good on.

TABLE XIV: GENERAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOOME SELECTED COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES

VARIABLE	FREQUENCY	PERCENTAGE (%)
Satisfactory	60	75
Dissatisfactory	20	25
Total	80	100

Table XIV above shows that 75% of the respondents recommend that the improvement of women in some selected cooperative societies is satisfactory, while 25% said it is dissatisfactory. This implies that majority of the respondents are saying that women in some selected cooperative societies is satisfactory.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0   SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1   SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS

Cooperative itself is life, this is true, because it examine the way human system works. System here is referred to as combination of different parts, which interact or cooperative to achieve a specific goal.

Cooperative society is therefore viewed as a system consisting of members who voluntary come together to achieve economic ends. The main objective of this research work is to look at the impact of cooperative in women  cooperative development. to see the extent of benefits, the role women derived from the formation of cooperative  societies through cooperative development.

The research work is divided into five chapters, the researcher used questionnaire, interview and observations as his tools for collecting data. The research covers some selected cooperatives women’s societies, district of Chikun Local Government Area.

The findings are based on the outcome of the questionnaires, interviews and observations on the position of cooperative society and women cooperative development in nation building.

5.1   RECOMMENDATIONS

Base on the observation above, the researcher therefore, put the following recommendations:

1.           There should be a provision of fund to the rural women by the government, philanthropic organizations and meaning individuals.

2.           Organizers of cooperative societies should organize a fund raising ceremony in order to raise fund.

3.           The members of these cooperative societies should examine the nation that the beneficiaries of the society are the rural women and that the society is in the hand of few powerful individuals and so they should encourage their fellow women to pursue positive and meaningful programme that will disburse minds of the critical.

4.           The key members of the society should develop the cooperative societies so that they can also be integrated into the policy making machinery of the society

5.           The media should also enlighten the rural dwellers on the socio-cultural factors, which limits women access to land and poor state of rural infrastructure

6.           The media should help in monitoring projects on ground to ensure both accountability and effectiveness of the society.

7.           There should be enough commitment in planning, implementation and over all management of the society.

8.           The local government wives with the councilors, chairmen and their wives should also assist in the financial aspect of these societies.

9.           The cooperative society should establish monitoring and evaluating teams, providing budgetary allocation and diversification financial base for the rural women such as establishment of women bank

10.        For the society to achieve  its aims and objectives, there should be an improvement in production, and they should also introduce an avenue where they can make more profit and also input supply.

11.        The local government wives and councilors wives should embark on mobilizing women in their local government area to form cooperative societies and other business venture that will improve their well being/

12.        The federal government through the national directorate for employment should create a scheme for the cooperative society, whereby will generate employment facilities and also support the provision of infrastructural amenities.

5.2   CONCLUSION

This research work has helped to broaden my understanding that cooperative has abundant facilities and infrastructural amenities. I am therefore, of the view that cooperative would have been better than what it is today in terms of transformation, if from the word go, women were strongly involved in cooperative activities with men.

In conclusion, it is worth while mentioning that, what the rural women had begun should not be let go, but to bring it out the woods. Nevertheless, more effort is needed to be done by those of them who could have arrived to mobilize the less privilege, gain access to education and adequate training and all the assistance required.

Finally, it is my view that this research has been through, well carried out and original. It is therefore, my fervent belief and hope that his work will be useful to researches, especially those responsible for carrying out policies and also those who might want to run a similar society.         

QUESTIONNAIRE (Please Tick Appropriate)

SECTION “A” PERSONAL DATA

1.           Marital status     (a) Married        (b) Single  (c) Divorced

2.           Occupation (a) Farming        (b) Trading                (c) Civil servant

3.           Sex:          (a)    Male                  (b) female

SECTION “B”

4.         Do you belong to any cooperative society in your area?
(a)   Yes     
(b)   No

5.         How long have you being in the cooperative society?_________

6.         Do you think through cooperative, rural women can have access to financial aid in the cooperative development?
(a)   Strongly agreed    
(b)   Partially agreed      
(c)   Not  decided

(d)   Strongly disagreed

(e)   Disagreed

7.         Do you think loans granted to women cooperative society can be manage?

(a)   Yes     
(b)   No

8.         If yes, in what way?

(a)      Investment

(b)      Agricultural production

(c)       Agricultural marketing

(d)      Community development

9.         What are the sources of loan to some selected cooperative society (C.W.S)?

(a)      Financial institution

(b)      Cooperative society

(c)       Friends and relatives

(d)      Government grant and subsidies

10.      Do you think leadership position can encourage the women in joining cooperative society?

(a)   Yes     
(b)   No

11.      Do you think that the productivity of the rural women can be improved?

(a)   Yes     
(b)   No

12.      If yes in what way?

(a)      Micro credit financing

(b)      Vocational training

(c)       Formation of cooperative

(d)      All of the above

13.      What is your assessment of some selected women cooperative society?

(a)      Excellent

(b)      Very good

(c)       Poor

(d)      Very poor

14.      What is your general recommendation for the improvement of some selected women cooperative society?

(a)      Satisfactory

(b)      Dissatisfactory

REFERENCES

1.           become a director general F.A.O woman economic for Africa (limited nation 1970)

2.           directorate of social mobilization (MAMSER) hand book

3.           David k. Adewa mobilization of women for rural development (1985)

4.           International Labour Organization cooperative management of administration (1977)

5.           International Cooperative Alliance the Cooperative identity

6.           Ireyora l. Ihimodu: Cooperative Economic (1998)

7.           Journal (1990) statement (pg.11)

8.           Journal (1984) women in development “towards a theory of women and development (pg.23)

9.           Mallam Yahaya Ibrahim potential contribution of women to cooperate development (1990)

10.        Mr. J.N.P Okonkwo  better life for rural cooperate (1983)

11.        Martin O.Igere cooperative as mankind (1955)

12.        Mr. Enyeribe Onuoha principles of cooperative enterprise (1986)

13.        National worship (1986)

14.        The international council rural women (1981)