TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i
Approval page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of content vi-vii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction 1-3
1.1 Background of the study 4-5
1.2 Statement of the problem 5
1.3 Objective of the study 5-6
1.4 Research question 6-7
1.5 Significance of the study 7
1.6 Scope of the study 7-8
1.7 Limitation of the study 8
1.8 Definition of terms 8-9
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Introduction 10-14
2.2 Cooperative as legal entities 14-17
2.3 Types of cooperative governance 17-23

CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Design and Methodology
3.1 Introduction 24
3.2 Research Design 24
3.3 Sources/method of data collection 25-26
3.4 Population and sample size 26
3.5 Sample techniques 26
3.6 validity and reliability for measurement
Instruments 27
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Presentation and Analysis of Data
4.1 Introduction 28
4.2 Presentation of data 28-29
4.3 Analysis of data 29-35

CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Introduction 36-37
5.2 Summary of findings 37-38
5.3 Conclusion 38-39
5.4 Recommandations 39-41
Reference s 42-43

Appendix 44
Questionnaires 45-48

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Cooperative societies are a unit of business organization. In

recent times, the importance of cooperatives have come into

focus in West Africa countries. Cooperatives society origin is

traced to the Rochadale Pioneers of 1844. It is believed that

cooperative societies were in cooperative before 1844, but is the

Rochadale Pioneers of 1844 who popularized the modern day

cooperatives movement. The Rochadale consisted of 28 members

who were mostly wavers. Their sole aim of farming cooperative

was to raise their standard of living during this time (1844)

people were experiencing economic hardship. This was mostly

pronounced among the law income earners. The Rochadale

Pioneers started by contributing or subscribing a few pence a

wee, they managed to obtained 28 with which they vented a

store in Toad Lane, Rochadale. They started tracing with small

stocks of fairs out meal and candles. Profits were distributed to

members in the proportion of their purchases. The Rochadale

cooperative was a consumer cooperative society. In Nigeria, the

formation of age group societies for team work and group

financial assistance among members in respect of farm work,

road construction, house erection and social festivities marked

the beginning of cooperative society’s movement. The idea of

cooperative societies was first conceived in 1934 and in February

1936. The legislative council passed the cooperative bill before

the movement was officially launched in the country, in the

beginning of cooperative societies in Nigeria; the running of

registration was at the regional levels. The word “Cooperative”

could be used in two different ways;-

a. Working together or “ready to help”.

b. An organized kind of business organization.

Cooperative is an old as mankind, for each other. Thus, this is

particularly important in all rural areas of the world. The herding

of all livestock’s is often carried out in turns by the herdsmen.

The gathering in and the thrashing of each farmers harvest area

often carried out by all neighbours joining together to help one

another in a manner, which though voluntary, is morally

compulsory by tradition I certain countries. This same method is

used for skinning well, building irrigation reservoirs and ditches

putting up houses and even burying the dead. Also cooperative is

known as a type of business organization. Its introduction to

industrial and business lives in West Africa generally and the rural
areas of Nigeria in particular, are however new. Cooperative in

his modern world is varied and it covers the work in all its

business entities. The importance of cooperative societies in

Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. The cooperative development

in any place must be conditionally by its economic pattern Nigeria

has an agricultural economy and cooperative was first developed

in Nigeria.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The study focused on the support or contribution of cooperative

societies toward economics development of Njaba LGA. This is

how cooperative societies change the standard of the people for

good as its aims and objectives as the data or information is

obtain in FMCS Umuaka. Cooperative societies or FMCS contribute

towards economic development of Njaba LGA in the following

ways: by granting loan to members, marketing of members

produce, establishing of cooperative shops etc. since cooperative

societies is a self help organization.

Cooperative development in Nigeria started mainly with single

purpose cooperative societies. They were involved in marketing

credit, thrift and savings etc by 1954. It was real used that one

cooperative could be form to combine with two or more of the

above functions such cooperative render more function to their

members if referred to as multi-purpose cooperative society.

According to Ijere (1977) two events lead to the rapid growth of

multipurpose cooperative society in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The major problems of cooperative societies include among

others;

(1) Inadequate financing.

(2) Mismanagement of resources by the management

committee (board of directors).

(3) Unqualified/inexperienced management committee.

(4) Uncommitted membership.

(5) Lack of clear policy guideline on cooperatives.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study is aimed at finding out the various ways cooperative

societies have contributed to the betterment of Njaba people

through FMCS located in their area. This is done self-help to

members, source of employment to Njaba’s marketing of

members produce, granting loan to members etc.

Furthermore, this study also highlights some problems facing

cooperative societies as poverty, illiteracy, diversion of fund etc

and the remedies to such problems.

This is to better the operation of cooperative societies and makes

it interesting as a source of economic development.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions for the study were made up of the

following:

i) What are the contributions of cooperative societies towards

the increase on capital development?

ii) What are the supports of cooperative towards the provision

of infrastructural facilities?

iii) What are the contributions of cooperative towards output

growth?
iv) What are the various sources of finance to the cooperative in

Njaba local government?

v) What are the various problems or challenges facing

cooperative societies in Njaba local government area?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study no doubt will be of immense advantages to the

agricultural cooperative societies in Njaba local government area.

This is because alternation shall be focused on the various

problems affecting their effective performance.

Secondly, the study will bring to lime light the hinder importance

of cooperative societies, thus, generating a greater degree of

government support.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The general standard of other forms of business is for making

motive which is the major difference between the cooperative

societies and their likes all over the world and other forms of

business such as companies, partnership, sole proprietorship etc.

However, the research is centered on the effort and contributed

of different types of cooperative societies to the economic

development of Njaba local government area of Imo state without

profit making being their major objective.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The factors which are inherent in the research situation and which

are uncontrollable and such can affect the researchers result are:

poor weather, national disaster like earth quake, through lead to

low productivity. Other limitations encountered by the researcher

are illiteracy among some cooperatives, high cost of

transportation incurred by the researcher during the operation.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

i) Cooperative societies: is registered associations of

persons who come together identify their socio-economic

problems and pulled their resources together to improve the

economic condition of her members.

ii) Primary cooperative societies: This is formed by private

individuals. It is formed within a minimum number of ten

persons.

iii) Secondary cooperative societies: This is the coming

together of two or more primary societies.

iv) Roles: The task or duty of cooperative societies,

v) Cooperative shops: They are sort of super market

organized and managed by the cooperative societies for the

benefits of its members and non-members.

vi) Economic development: Any activity likely to improve the

standard of living of individual and the society in general.

vii) Cooperative inspectors: They are employed by the

government to take charge of supervision, the activities and

programmes of primary and secondary societies and in an

area. They also organize seminars and collective data to

acquaint cooperative with new ideas.

viii) Marketing cooperatives: They jointly using cooperative

tools of all items produced individually.