The main objective of this research work is to examine the impact of cooperative societies in the socio-economic development or rural communities in Owerri West Local Government area was taken as a case study.

Cooperative movement in Nigeria as to improve or meet the common needs of the communities by mutual relationship and to improve both the social and economic condition of the communities through increase in production and mutual understanding. A cooperative society has strategies and plans to help improve the standard living of the rural population.

Development and economic growth are essential to determine the standard of living of the rural dwellers. We cannot talk of development and growth in Nigeria economy without mentioning the development of our rural areas. Neglecting the development of the rural area is like solving our economic problem half way. We should be wise enough to extract the experience gained from countries like china, Israel, Tanzania and some of the Asia which have yielded a great development or success in those countries. Our quest and enthusiasm towards the development of our rural cooperative base is panacea to the rural drivellers. A well planned rural development is the answer to rural poverty. Looking at Nigeria rural scene, one will know that there are some little projects and programs organized which is centered at the urban area which the rural area does not enjoy the maximum benefits of such arrangement. Cooperative societies were introduced to aid the developed and developing area, to have .the same privileges as in urban area.

This also help the woman understand know the importance of woman in cooperative activities.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The general history of cooperative dates back to nineteenth century. Since then, it has spread to the whole including Nigeria, the main objective of the movement is to improve or meet the common need by mutual relationship and to improve both the social and economic condition of the countries and nation through increase in production and mutual understanding.

In Nigeria, the history of cooperative movement dates to the 1930’s, the main aim of the colonial master then, was to organize farmland where farmers would cultivate on and produce cash crops like palm oil, cocoa and rubber, this farmland was later organized ,into registered group after acquiring the required legislations, this was for the purpose of increasing production, processing and marketing of their products, which at that time was the major exchange for the government, indeed cooperative societies have been well know as an instrument of the communities development in all countries today, both development government is geared towards the socio-economic development of the masses in pursuing this goal, the tool used is the formation of cooperative.

1.2 STATEEMNT OF PROBLEMS

In recent times, government and other interested organization have made various sources of finance available to cooperative in the rural areas because they see such organization as one of the major paths to the socio economic development of the nation, for instance, in the fourth national development plan of 1980-1985 million was ear marked for the running of cooperative in Nigeria, despite of all the enormous fund being spent on cooperative a list or problems still exist and it is the purpose of this research work to identify and find out solution to the problems as well;

· Lack of cooperation among rural people

· Problem of illiteracy, as must of the rural people are illiterate.

· Fraudulent activities of the officials of cooperatives bestowed with the power of implementing development activities in these rural areas.

· The fact that cooperative here are mostly government organized, they have little fund to embark on project, this is due to the delay in release of funds, when they contribute their own, they raise very small amount of money.

· Lack of infrastructure like food roads, electricity, pipe borne water and hospitals etc.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Looking at Nigeria rural scene, which is not dominated by project and programme for the rural development, the little of such organized projects and programmes are centered at the urban area which the rural area does not enjoy the maximum benefits of such arrangement. Cooperative societies were introduced to aid the developed and developing area, as they could now have the same privileges as in other countries so, the major aims of the research work is to;

i. Determine the role the cooperative societies have played in promoting economic activities in the rural area.

ii. Finding out whether those projects are adequate and what they have contributed so far to the development of these areas.

iii. Finding our avenue of economic activities available to rural area but not presently utilized by them.

iv. Finding out whether those projects are of improvement.

v. Investigating project that are implemented and how effective they are to the rural development.

vi. Examining the various difficulties encountered by cooperative societies in raising fund for their business activities.

vii. Suggesting solution to problems affecting them.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i. What role has cooperative played in promoting economic activities in the rural area?

ii. Does cooperative contribute to the economic development of Owerri West Local Government Area?

iii. How have cooperative assistance and incentive helped in assessing their adequate and effectiveness in enhancing proper economic development in the rural area?

iv. Has cooperative made any contribution to the infrastructure and agricultural development of Owerri West Local Government Area

v. Does cooperative provide functional education and employment opportunities to members and people of Owerri West Local Government Area?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work is aimed at highlighting the significance of cooperative societies in the economic development of Owerri West Local Government Area. The study will also find out solution to problems associated with cooperative in particular area and rural development in general. This will also help woman understand more and the importance of farming, woman cooperative activities like family support programme in the rural area.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is that it should take care of the socio-economic development in Owerri West Local Government Area due to limited resources and time available for this work, the time given for this study was too short.

Secondly, this study help people to pull themselves together and their resources together on mutual or self help basis to form a business enterprises which seeks to solve the economic problems of its members.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The limitation of this study is based on the improvement, implementing and processing the ideas that will heap in the up bringing of the communities, societies and areas where their members live or stay. Another major constraint to the research work is the unwilling of the cooperative staff in the area to release certain document which contains vital information needed for their work.

Secondly, the limitation of this study also base on research work in order to find out problems and give solution to them.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

There are some terms in cooperative which needs to be defined in other to alert their scholars of their meaning examples.

ICA – International Cooperative Alliance

ILO – Intentional Labor Organization

UNICEF – United Nations International Children Emergency Fund

IAEA - International Atomic Agency

USSR - Union of Soviet Republic

NGO - Non Governmental Organization

IFAP - International Federation of Agriculture Product

AARRO - Rural Reconstruction Organization

ICFIU - Intentional Confederation of the Trade Union