THE ANALYSIS OF THE PROSPECT AND CHALLENGES OF CO –OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
A CASE STUDY THE SELECTED CO –OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN IDAH,KOGI STATE.

TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
 Introduction
1.1     Background of the Study
1.2    Statement of the Problem
1.3    Objective of the Study
1.4    Research Questions
1.5    Significance of the Study
1.6    The Scope and Limitation of the Study
1.7    Definition of key Terms
1.8    Organization of Work
1.9    End of Chapter Reference
CHAPTER TWO
2.1     Introduction
2.2    An Overview Of Co-Operative In Idah
2.3    Meaning Of Co-operative Society
2.4    Characteristics Of Co-operative Societies
2.5    Formation Of A Co-operative Society
2.6    Types Of Co-operative Society
2.7    Advantages Of Co-operative Society
2.8    Benefits Of Co-operative Society
2.9    Prospect Of Co-operative Society
2.10    The Impact Of Co-operative Societies On Rural Development.
2.11    Problem Faced By Co-operative Societies In Rural Development
2.12     The Need For Re-engineering           
2.13     Problem Faced By Co-operative Societies In Rural Development
2.14     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    Sources and method  Of Data Collection
3.5    Population Of the Study
3.6    Sample And Sampling Techniques
3.7    Instrument Used For Data Collection
3.8    Method of  Data Analysis
Reference
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1    Introduction
4.2    Data Presentation and Analysis
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: INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
    The history of co –operative societies cannot be completed without making references to the (1884) Rochdale equitable pioneers experience. The first known co –operative society, the world over, reared its head in Rochdale in (1884). That was when the impact of industrial revolution was been felt greatly by the working class.
    Akpaneua (2001), observed that to weavers in Rochodale who contributed money and established co –operativebusiness where the founder of co –operative society in the world. Akpaneua (2001), maintainedthat at the end of the business year,theRochdale co¬-operative discovered that the profit made by them was so far greater than the total profit they have made,if they had to work an individual basis without  co-operation.
Since (1844) the objective of co-operative society has spread to many roots and corners. In west African countries,many cooperatives societies have been established especially among the farmers, producers and buyersin Nigeria, the history of co-operatives dated back to (1937) during which producers and buyers came together to form a co-operative union.
Since that time,many co-operatives organization have been spring up here and there are to cater for the interest of one group or the other.All co-operative societies in formation receive model bye-Laws for their guidance and describe the complete working of the society. The ultimate authority in a society is general meeting of all members which elect annually management committee to carry out the day to day functions of the society.
    All officers of the society, they normally elected through voting at the general meeting. Organization and functions of co-operative societies are explained below:
    According to Amana (1978) in Nigeria, the co-operative society department was included in the port-folio of the ministry social welfare and co-operative. The head of department was the registrar of co-operatives of societies with his headquarters in Kano State. All assistant registrars took charge of certain are of operation in which they supervise and teach the members of co- operative inspectors. In addition, there were some native administration co-operation inspectors whose touring areas were generally limited to the boundary of their respective native authorities. In some areas two or more same native authorities may share one inspector. The work of co –operative consist of helping in the formations of the societies, teaching ordinary members their duties, right and privilege and teaching the committee.
    Similarly, their duties are generally how the society should be run to genuine democratic basis. It should be noted that the government of Nigeria has been making frantic effort to encourage co-operative societies among various groups in the society. This has lead to the formation ofvarious co- operative societies among various groups in the country. This has lead to formation of various co-operative unions among artistry, trader, consumers, producers etc. in recent times; the government of Nigeria has stressing the importance of co-operative societies in national development. That is why from (1986) to date the federal government of Nigeria have been encouraging co-operative associations by the introduction of better live for rural dwellers and family support programs.All these measures are aiming at ensuring and family support program.
All measures are aiming at ensuring that the lots of the rural people are better through co-operative efforts.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
    The successive administration in Nigeria has been concerned with how to transform the rural areas.This has necessitated the introduction of various rural development programmers such as Agricultural development programmes,operation feed the nation (OFP),better life for rural area dwellers and family support programmes(    FSO),yet our rural areas remains undeveloped,and in recent times the development activities in rural areas to nosedive the morethe questions to ask, therefore are: despite these land able programme of government,why are the rural area in the country remains grossly underdeveloped? Co –operative societies, being veritable organs for development, what role can they plan to bring about the expected development to the rural area, this study shall, therefore, examine the prospect development to the rural area? The prospect of co –operative society can play to bring about developmental changes to the rural. Since rural area absorb the highest percentages of the population of Nigeria citizens, the need to bring about development to the area not to be over emphasized.

1.3    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
    The main objective of this study is to examine the prospect of co –operative societies in rural development.
Other sub –objective of the study are as follows:
a.    To examine the role government play in assisting co –operative societies to achieve their rural development goals.
b.    To identify any of the obstacles or barriers to the co –operative societies to carryout their rural development activities.

1.4    STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES
    As guide for this study, the following hypotheses have been formulated.
HYPOTHESIS 1
H0:    People are not aware of the gains of co –operative society
H1:    People are aware of the gains of co –operative society
HYPOTHESIS 2
H0:    Co –operative society lack fund to carryout development activities.
H1:    Co –operative society do not lack fund
HYPOTHESIS 3
H0:    The selected co –operative societies do not have adequate manpower to pilot the affairs of the society.
H1: The selected co –operative societies have adequate manpower to pilot the affairs of the society.
HYPOTHESIS 4
H0:    Co –operative society do not play any significant role in rural development.
H1:    Co –operative society play significant role in rural development.

1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY        
    This study has been of great benefit to the rural dwellers as it avail them of the opportunity to form co –operative societies and enjoy the benefit of such co –operative societies.
The study was also been of importance to co –operative organization as the finding enables them to identified the problem militated against co –operative societies in Nigeria.

1.6    SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
SCOPE:
    This study covered only the registered three (3) selected co –operative societies in Idah Kogi State. The scope cut across the selected co –operative societies whose names are registered with the ministry of commerce, industries, co –operative, unregistered co –operative societies are not covered in this study.
LIMITATION:
    This research work on the topic Analysis of the prospects and challenges of co –operative societies in rural development is focus only in co –operative societies Idah, Kogi State. The research was faced with same problem like finance and during the cause of investigation, data collection and high level of inconsistency among the few ones that was available.

1.7    DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
    Co –operative as an association of persons, usually of limited means who voluntary, democratically came together to achieve a common economic and social objectives of its member by making equitable contribution of capital required and accepting a pair share of risk and benefit of the undertaking.
    As could be seen, emphases are laid on five points, namely:
-    Voluntarism
-    Democracy
-    Common economic and social objectives
-    Equitable contribution
-    Risk and benefit
I.    VOLUNTARISM: in other words, in co –operative, people pull their resources together not be cohesion but their own volition and willingness.
II.    COMMON OBJECTIVE: identical economic and social interest are identified and pursued by all members not of varied or divided interest that is all members fight a common course.
III.    DEMOCRACY: Policies and objective are formulated and executed by means of majority views and not that of a selected few (democratic -control) that is the supreme authority is not vested in a management committee makes recommendation, but the final decision vest with members and each members has one vote and no more.
IV.    EQUITABLE CONTRIBUTION:Each of them makes just, reasonable and modest contributions to the capital required but not permitting overwhelming percentages of the capital to be controlled by a single individual or a selected few.
V.    RISK AND BENEFITS: As an entrepreneur, the member shares in the risk and benefit arising from the undertaking. Benefit is the form of patronage rebate (a share of the surplus, risk by forfeiting capital contribution in case or winding up due to incessant deficit. )   

1.8    END OF CHAPTER REFERENCES
AKPANENUA  N.S.  (2001) Foundation for co –operative End –Time publishing House ltd, Ibadan, Nigeria.
NWOKE, N.M. AND UMEBAL, E.E. (2005) Co –operative, A historical perspective, JTC publication Enugu.