Assessment of the Role of Cooperative Societies in Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

Assessment of the Role of Cooperative Societies in Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria

“Nwabudike (1990, Page 21)” asserted that “the origin of cooperation is the tendency to live in cooperation to help one another”. He describes this form of cooperation as “traditional dispose problems without continuity to give it an organizational structure. He traced the origin of actual cooperation to the period of industrial revolution in Britain from the effects of hardship as a result of the capitalist tendencies to exploit the ordinary citizens/workers which provoke uprising of various kind of protest ” Industrial revolution gave rise to associations like the chartist movement, corn mill and banking societies and lots of others. Despite the fact that some of these societies failed in their struggles, their coming together left a legacy to be remembered as such attract attention in the history books and government made some law to guide against poverty. The year 1884 recorded the existence of the formidable and first successful cooperative   society in the works known as the Rochadale Equitable pioneers” made up of twenty eight (28) weavers. Twenty seven (27) men-and a woman. Some succeeded while others failed, these societies were spread all over Europe counties like France, Germany, Denmark, USA etc. the success story of the societies that continue to flourish was attributed to the ability of the  Roahadales and others  to fashion out the rules and guidelines which where eventually known as the cooperative principles. Apart form the rules and regulations they have said to give attention to constant meetings and education of members. Another interesting aspect of the origin of cooperatives in Europe was the emergence of men of good will is the philanthropists who took it upon themselves to use their human and materials as well as their wealth to champion the cause of cooperatives.

Government also contributed t o the success of cooperative in the sense that it was not an outburst support or discouragement they passed enabling laws that sustains the existence. This also contributed immensely to the development of cooperative in Europe “Nwabudilce, (1990 pg. 23)”, Nigeria being a colony of British; we were made to follow the culture and events in the Masters County. Nigeria like British, in Europe had a starting point in the history modern cooperatives, as well as traditional cooperatives. Since our major concern here is all about modern cooperative, restriction will be placed on the aspect of the main issue involved in the account given by Emma (1986 pg 93-94) asserted that “modern cooperatives started in Nigeria as far back as 1907 in the west and the first cooperative society to be formed was the Agege planters union which was a group of formidable societies who based on  sound practice”. They said to have operated in commercial level and very successful with their membership purely Nigerians with total of four hundred (400) coca farmers. The union made concerted efforts to get recognition from the colonial government of the British in Nigeria all to no avail. Because of their success and progress, they made other regions to startup cooperative societies. Since an enterprise is not seen to be legal until it is registered. The Agege planters Union decided to invite other societies to give them the required support for government to see them being registered. This invited the Egba societies 1911 into their midst. All these fell on deaf ears as the colonial government deemed it fit for them to be registered. With the pressure becoming uncomfortable for the colonial government. They organized the freestories in the department of work in joint venture arrangement with them in 1922  

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT EXPOSURES
The analyses of factors of growth in any organization are: funds, membership, employees and quality of products (ALL things being equal). In cooperatives, the same is applicable. However, more things come to play in cooperative organizations. They include.

INCREASE IN MEMBER OF REGISTERED SOCIETIES.
When societies are registered in many state they could be few, but as time goes on, they will increase in number. Increasing number means growth. When the numbers of societies have increased, then there is growth of cooperatives societies.