THE ROLE OF WOMEN COOPERATIVES IN RURAL WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The lack of data on the level of involvement of women in the economy, activities in Nigeria had made it impossible to assess roles and contribution towards the economic growth of Nigeria.

Though women contribute over 80% of the national food supply, their economic power are still limited. They have limited access to ownership of land sand housing limited participation in national building. Women empowerment and their roles are determined by the society and also by the societal perception.

One cannot therefore overemphasize the important role which cooperative movement can play on the lives of women in nigeria especially in this era of food shortage and economic depression. This present study goes on to investigate the contribution of cooperative society in the economic empowerment of women and the problem militating against the participation of women in the cooperative society with a view of making recommendation one of the constraints of rural women's economic advancement in nigeria has been blamed by the school of thought, one of the inability of nigeria women to embrace cooperative way of doing business, hellen (1965).

This is because cooperative is one of the most effective vehicle for organizing rural production. Cooperative is not only the suitable organizational frame work for accelerated rural development but also they are veritable instrument for assisting women in the achievement of increased output of farm products.

for instance, in the procurement of farm inputs like fertilizers, improved seedling credits as well as in the product shortage and marketing.

The international banking mission which studies and reported on the nigeria economy in 1954 appreciated this unfavourable social climate when they sustained that full support should be given to the cooperatives as vehicle for economic development. For it is the form of economic organization fully compatible with nigeria traditions and social sentiment, onuoha (1978). This amplifies the need to establish cooperatives more especially among rural women. However giving the fact that nigeria is a developing nation oriented on the principle of capitalism, the question then is how can these women cooperative, social, educational, cultural and political status of their fellow women. The enthusiasm and the spirit with which the rural women embrace the formation of cooperatives in nigeria especially aboh mabaise local government area in imo state has shown that women are developing conscious.

They are quite willing and dispose to pull their resources together in order to improve their earnings, power and their standard of living. The emergence of better life programme for rural women in (1999) was of the greatest factors in nigeria history which was awoken the consciousness of the nation on the great potentials of women folk and integrated into the solid economic mainstream. This programme has fully mobilized rural women emancipated them intellectually. It also served as forum to mobilize women for the resolution of their social economic problems. This programme did not last due to the change in government and was taken over by the family support programme (FSP).

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1.2 Statement of the Problems

Modern women co-operative were to cater for the social economic need of the people and rural developments but their many problems are economic and social problems and most cases educational, poor participation of women in co-operative activities irregular attendance to cooperative meetings, illiteracy among women in cooperative society. Women members of the society are either illiterate or have very low level of education.

Lack of experience: the women have little or no experience in running the cooperative business enterprise. This makes their financial contribution very small, the women have management skills.

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1.3 Objectives of the Study

The study formulates the following specific objectives:

1. To Study The Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Members of Women Cooperative Society In Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area.
2. To Evaluate The Contribution of Women Cooperative To Rural Women Economic Empowerment.
3. To study types of cooperative and economic activities carried by women cooperatives in empowering it members in aboh mbaise.
4. To study the service of funds of these cooperatives.
5. To identify the problems facing the women cooperatives in empowerment of its members.
6. To make quality recommendation based on the findings.

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1.4 Research Questions

Research question is a statement about any set of phenomena, which is capable of being confirmed with available facts. in the case of this research work, the following research questions shall be invested:

• What are the socio-economic characteristics of the members of the women cooperative societies in aboh mbaise LGA?
• What are the contributions of women cooperative to the rural women economic empowerment?
• What types of cooperative and economic activities women cooperatives engaged in cooperative in aboh mbaise?
• Where do women cooperatives source their funds from?
• What are the problems facing the women cooperative in the areas of study?

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1.5 Significance of the Study

This study will be of great importance to the following group:

Government:

This study is most conspicuous in the services and to the rural development especially in this period of economic recession in which government wants all hands on desk to diversify the present mono-economic of the nation through increase food production.

Public:

This will highlight the level of women's role in rural developments. It will eliminate doubt as to whether or not women cooperatives are of any significance in the rural development.

Researchers:

This study will guide other researchers who may wish to operate long cooperative lines especially as it concerns women in rural development through cooperative in aboh mbaise LGA.

Cooperative Leaders:

The information provides by the study may be tremendous help to the cooperative leaders and other supervisors such as rural development, division for the governors office, agricultural extension agents, the family support commission and other financial as cooperative offices and managers.

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1.6 The Scope of the Study

The scope of the study limits to selected registered women cooperatives in aboh mbaise local government area of imo state.

The limitation of this selected cooperative society does not necessarily eliminate chance of making valid conclusion on the entire population of women cooperative in aboh mbaise local government area, as society are fairly representatives of the situation in the local government area generally.

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1.7 Limitation of Study

As Always The Case In Any Human Endeavour, Problems Most Encountered In Trying To Carry Out Any Meaningful Activities Especially When It Involves Groups, Moving From Place To Another Interviewing Cooperative Officer and Government Offices. The Project Is Not An Exception.

These Problems Could Be Classified As Follows:

1. Insufficient and inadequate data: there are grossly inadequate data to support the analysis of women cooperative in aboh mbaise. This lack of data has made cooperative in aboh mbaise.
2. Time Factor: the time available to carry out the research and come out with something meaningful and researchable is not adequate. The research work is being done with normal academic work time therefore posed a big limit to the scope of the study.
3. Delimitation: as a result of the above mentioned pints, the scope is limited only from 1987 – 1998.

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1.8 Definition of Terms

Co-Operative Society:

Cooperative society is an institution which deals with frame work co-operation of joint activities by people, take in formalized long term and deliberate and to a great extent specified in the social and especially economic sphere of human endeavours.

Registered Co-Operative Societies:

Registered co-operative society is any cooperative society registered, thereby acquiring authority to operate. Cooperatives are used for the purpose of the study to represent registered cooperative society.

Rural Development:

Rural development concerns with the living standard of how income population in the rural area on a self sustaining basis through transforming the socio-economic structure of their productive activities.

Community:

Community should be regarded as a unified body of individual with characteristics of interest. A coming historical heritage, cultural affinities and common socio-economic and political interest advanced by the government.

Population Sample:

This is a small group having all the characteristics of the population under study and upon which postulation or judgment about entire population is based.

FMCS:

Farmer Multipurpose Co-Operative Societies.