Participation Of Women In Cooperative In Nigeria

Project and Seminar Material for Political Science

Abstract

Women in Nigeria, especially the rural community are generally believed to be unaware of the various opportunities open to them in cooperative activities. To reveal how the women, get involved in cooperative activities, in spite of their notion of alleged information poverty, underscores the imperative of this study. Survey research design was adopted to investigate a sample of 133 women, proportionately derived from selected local government across the political zone. A combination of structured and validated questionnaire and interview schedule were used to collect data from purposively selected women from the sample. types of cooperative information were provided to the women namely: cooperative education, sourcing of funds, membership/registration modalities, sale and purchase conditions, financial contribution procedure. They participated in various cooperative activities including marketing of goods and services.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Contemporary world economic order shows that women have become critical in the affairs of any nation especially in economic and national development process, either in the formal or informal sector, urban or rural areas. The participation of women in the economic life of a country like Nigeria, is only one aspect of their changing roles in the society (Onyejiuwa, 2016). Etim (1995) captures the changing role of women in Nigeria when she remarks that most topical issues in international or global development agenda is women. Today, issues about women have taken varied nomenclatures such as women issues, women concerns, women in development, women in politics and even women in science and technology. Varied as the nomenclatures may be, there is however, global consensus that international development plans must include strategies for the integration of women into the development and economic process. One of the areas that women in Nigeria, particularly at the rural level are expected to be actively involved is in cooperative activities.

With participation in cooperative activities, women may be able to change some of their social economic realities in forms of creating opportunities for self-actualization economically, modify public perception on their status and more importantlyimprove their overall standard of living. Contemporary world economy has made the role of women to be no longer limited to child bearing and home management (Okafor, 2008; Arowolo and Achuko, 2010); they have become critical stake-holders in the economic and social advancement of their families and societies (Okafor, 2016). However, active participation of women in cooperative activities may be unsustainable without unhindered access to relevant, timely and accurate information, properly packaged and delivered. It is the perceived lack of adequate knowledge of cooperative opportunity open to the rural women that make their involvement in cooperative activities still far from being satisfactory(Ikonne and Duru, 2015).

To unlock women’s economic potentials on cooperative activities and therefore, strengthen their enthusiasm to participate in cooperative activities, information should be provided at the right time, at the right place, in the right quality and quantity. It is the information circumstance of the rural women in Nigeria when viewed against the backdrop of illiteracy, poor communication facilities, existence of harmful cultural practices and the like among rural women that make people believe that rural women are generally without adequate information on cooperative matters. Women form the majority in the rural areas, and are involved at all stages of agricultural enterprises, responsible for about 80% of all food items produced (Njar, 1990; Mgbada 2002; Rahman, 2004) and 70 percent of food production and 50 percent of the domestic food storage in the country (Ritche, 1977). In addition, they form an active and reserve labour force but they rarely own the means of productions (Rahman 2004) suggesting that the position of women in agricultural development cannot be over emphasized.

Cooperatives have been regarded as one of the main institutional machineries for empowering the economically weak members of the society. Cooperatives are able to promote economic and social development because they are commercial organizations that follow a broader set of values than those associated purely with the profit motive. Cooperatives play an important role in job creation by directly providing self-employment to members and service provision for non-members. Enterprise development and particularly the promotion of small and medium enterprises, has been adopted as a prerequisite and a strategy for job creation and economic growth in a large number of countries (Essien, 2000). Despite the availability of cooperative societies and efforts of government at all levels, it appears that a significant proportion of rural women are either unaware of the existence of such co-operative societies or are lacking in the basic socioeconomic characteristics that form the prerequisite for participation in such activities (Idrisa et al., 2007).

In some cultures, women are restricted from conducting business independently or without their husband„s consent. This poses a serious challenge to participation in cooperative activities. Even though in some cases women„s legal rights may be stipulated in a cooperative they may not necessarily be enforced or they may be superseded by customary law. It is in line with this view that Ashanti (1993) observed that lack of social, economic and legal rights explains women’s low participation in cooperative decision-making and leadership positions.

Besides cultural issues, women, especially in developing countries, are confronted by formidable constraints that block their active participation in cooperatives most especially, the traditional role of women in society and the prevalent misconception that women’s reproductive and domestic responsibilities constitute their main role. However, Eboh (1988), recognized that despite women‟s major responsibilities in the household health and nutrition, women’s role in agriculture cover all facts of agribusiness including food production, livestock production, fishery as well as farm management.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Cooperatives have been regarded as one of the main institutional machineries for empowering the economically weak members of the society. Cooperatives are able to promote economic and social development because they are commercial organizations that follow a broader set of values than those associated purely with the profit motive. Cooperatives play an important role in job creation by directly providing self employment to members and service provision for non-members. Enterprise development and particularly the promotion of small and medium enterprises, has been adopted as a prerequisite and a strategy for job creation and economic growth in a large number of countries (Essien, 2000). It is in view of that the researcher intends to investigate the effect of women participation in cooperative

1.3 Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to ascertain the impact of women participation in cooperatives. To aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following specific objectives;

To ascertain the impact of women participation in cooperative in the development of rural women
To investigate the role of cooperative in empowering rural women in Nigeria
To investigate the impact of women participation in cooperative on the development of rural women
To ascertain the importance of cooperative society in women empowerment

1.4 Research Hypotheses

To aid the completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher

H0: women participation in cooperative has no impact on the economic development of women in the rural community
H1: women participation in cooperative has impact on the economic development of women in the rural community
H02: cooperative society has no role in empowering women in rural communities
H2: cooperative society has a role in empowering women in rural communities

1.5 Significance of the Study

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the management of cooperative society as the study will help the management in implementing policies that will integrate women into the organization, the study will also be of importance to the government at various level to establish cooperative that are female friendly as to enhance adequate participation of women in rural community. The study will also be useful to researchers who intend to embark on research in similar topic, Finally the findings of this study will also be immense benefit to government, academia, scholars, researchers and the general public.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the study covers women participation in cooperative, however in the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) Availability of Research Material:

The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.

b) Time:

The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Finance:

The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Cooperative

A cooperative is “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

Participation

Participation in social science refers to different mechanisms for the public to express opinions – and ideally exert influence – regarding political, economic, management or other social decisions

Women

A woman is a female human being. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent.

1.8 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature.
Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Introduction

It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to investigate the importance of women participation in cooperative

In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of encountered by women in participating in cooperatives.

5.2 Summary

This research has explicitly established that right information on cooperative activities provided to the women at the right time and place, using the right media is a catalyst in sensitizing and empowering women to take active part in cooperative activities. The notion that token or partial involvement of women in Imo State in cooperative activities was largely due to information poverty should be re-examined. Evidence has also shown that women who engaged in cooperative activities such as marketing of cooperative goods and services, financial contributions, liaison with government officials and others were all products of timely and relevant information. However, concerted efforts be made towards enhancing the flow and dissemination of relevant and timely information to the women through the right media so that complaints made by the women on the timing, media and language of dissemination be properly addressed. Also the women should be encouraged to learn the use of ICT resources, as they have become globally easier to send and access information on time through the social/media sources. This may increase not only their access and use of information but also their participation in cooperation activities

5.3 Conclusion

The study has reveal that cooperatives are good mechanisms for pooling women`s resources, offering them advantages of economies of scale. With the income from cooperative activities women could raise their standard of living and become economically independent to an extent, were basic needs, like clothes, food and school fees for their children are covered. Nevertheless, economic opportunities in the cooperatives are limited and most women need to have additional sources of income to add to cooperative profits. The researcher is of the opinion that the cooperative membership changes women`s capacity to make strategic choices in their lives and increases their self-esteem and decision-making capabilities. Cooperatives definitely facilitate access to various resources in form of training opportunities and access to loans. Besides the financial means, women found an important contribution to a better life through the network they could establish with other cooperative members, who share the same problems and challenges. For these women the cooperative was not only a place for work, but a place for relations of solidarity among them. This is relevant and goes far beyond work opportunities but matters in terms of social inclusion and a sense of belonging

5.4 Recommendation

Haven completed the study, the researcher recommends that to move forward, some concrete steps need to be undertaken by the major intervening agencies, namely public private partnership, women’s organizations (WOs) and more importantly by cooperatives aiming at stimulating the process of women empowerment. Interventions should be in the nature of legislative, planning, programme or structural steps to provide greater opportunities to reduce gender based domestic violence practices against women and enhance confidence and interest of women to claim for their political and legal rights.

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