Co-operative and Poverty Alleviation
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The major aim of this project is to bring to x-ray the role of co-operative in alleviation of poverty in Enugu state.
Specifically, this project also aim at:
- To show the relationship between government and co-operative societies toward poverty alleviation.
- To show the importance / role of co-operative in poverty alleviation.
- To approve yet co-operative is the medium through which the weak and oppressed members of the society can reach the government
- To examine the involvement of co-operative in implementing government programme on poverty alleviation.
- To enlighten to the people on the importance of group effort.
- To identify co-operative activities that can create job opportunities, reduce poverty, increase the standard of living and ultimately reduce mass illiteracy etc.
- To identify the type of co-operative.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Poverty
Poverty does not have a universal definition because of its multi-dimensional nature. However, several attempts had been made by different writers to define the concept which accounted for each trying to relate the term to his/her perception or specialization. For instance, United Nation Development Programme and Millennium Development Goals have all viewed poverty from human development point of view and perspective. According to these two international bodies, poverty restricts human development through the restriction of human freedom, dignity, and self-respect. Effiom and Archibong (2014) went to show that poverty also manifests in many other forms and dimensions especially among youths. These scholars highlighted some of the ways including an escalation in crises, increase in crime rate, increase in child labour, low literacy, and high rate of unemployment. Similarly, poverty can also manifests in poor health, insecurity, voicelessness, powerlessness, low level of income, food insecurity and social exclusion in the society. The concept of poverty has again been given alternative but similar definitions from economic viewpoint which underscore material wellbeing as the basis for its understanding. Looking at the above position, Brown (1975:135) is for instance of the opinion that, “Poverty may be narrowly defined in economic terms”. A poor person is a have not, who has little or no ability over his inadequate personal resources. The poor is thus found at the bottom most rung of our society ladder. To this scholar, there exist functional and sometimes systematic relations between poverty and the circumstances of economic insufficiency, inequality and dependence (Brown, 1975). Thus; poverty exists according to this thinking, because people could not be able to meet the basic economic demands of their society necessary for decent life. Sequel to earlier overview, there is no denying the fact that definition of poverty had drawn many controversies but a general definition of the concept requires a qualification of recognition and sufficiency as used by different people. From most literatures, there is an implied agreement that individual, community, state, country and international bodies have to properly understand the dimensions and causes of poverty in any given community through wide range of activities and engagements towards achieving sustainable poverty alleviation (Abbas, 2013). It may then remain elusive if there is no proper understanding of socio-economic and political forces that shapes poverty situation in a particular place and time. In the case of Nigeria, a comprehensive definition of poverty provided by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is still relevant here. CBN (1999:1) defined poverty as; a state where an individual is not able to carter adequately for his or her basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, is unable to meet social and economic obligations; lacks gainful employment, skills, assets and self-esteem; and has limited access to social and economic infrastructure such as education, health, portable water and sanitation and consequently has limited chances of advancing his or her welfare to the limit of his or her capabilities While poverty remains a general problem in the society, two types are mostly identified namely absolute and relative poverty (Aliyu, 2002). Absolute poverty indicates lack of minimum physical requirement of person or a household to live a decent life. Such situation is extreme that affected people are not in a position to live a life worthy of human dignity and worth.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine Co-operative and poverty alleviation. Ministry of manpower development in Enugu state forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Co-operative and poverty alleviation. 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 Co-operative and poverty alleviation Summary
This study was on Co-operative and poverty alleviation. Five objectives were raised which included: To show the relationship between government and co-operative societies toward poverty alleviation, to show the importance / role of co-operative in poverty alleviation, to approve yet co-operative is the medium through which the weak and oppressed members of the society can reach the government, to examine the involvement of co-operative in implementing government programme on poverty alleviation, to enlighten to the people on the importance of group effort, to identify co-operative activities that can create job opportunities, reduce poverty, increase the standard of living and ultimately reduce mass illiteracy etc and to identify the type of co-operative. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from ministry of manpower development in Enugu state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
It is evident that there has been steady increase in numbers and memberships of cooperative societies over time. This development is achieved as awareness that poverty alleviation is now considered as not only the responsibility of government alone but even for cooperative societies. Importantly, the successful activities of cooperative societies towards poverty alleviation have continued to serve as a means of livelihood for its members. The study also discovered that the activities of cooperative societies offer mutual benefits to their members such as financial assistance, soft loans, training, skills acquisition, job opportunity and self-reliance, etc. Majority of the respondents also opined that, the roles being played by cooperative societies are successful towards alleviating poverty. However, despite its success rate, there exist some challenges facing cooperative societies towards alleviating poverty. Such major challenges include: poor or lack of soft credit loan, proper training, proper skill, sufficient seed fund, and poor participation of people in the activities of cooperative societies.
Recommendation
Since poverty alleviation remains complex; it must be dealt with through an integrated approach that will involve all critical stakeholders: State, Private Sector and the Civil Society Organisation towards achieving higher results. This can be achieved if mass mobilisation of people is embarked upon by the groups.
.As cooperative societies represent democratic views, efforts should be made by the groups to integrate opinions of their members through the adoption of bottom-up approach to policy design and implementation thereby mobilising all important stakeholders to support its activities towards achieving its success and sustainability.
The strategies of cooperative societies should be consciously articulated to realistically reflect proper skills and trainings of its members within specific needs of such communities in which they are based or situated.
References
- Abbas, A. I. (2013). Appraising the policies and programmes of poverty reduction in Nigeria: A critical view point. International Journal of Administration and Development Studies (IJADS), 4(1) 88-110.
- Aliyu, A. (2002). Re-structuring of the poverty alleviation activities of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Abuja; National Poverty Eradication Programme
- Brichall, J. (2003). Rediscovering the co-operative advantage poverty reduction through self-help. Cooperative Branch, International Labour Office, Geneva.
- Brown, G. B. (1975). A survey of the social sciences, London; McGraw Hill Book Company.
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). (1999). Nigeria’s development prospects: Poverty assessment and alleviation study. Abuja; Central Bank of Nigeria in Collaboration with the World Bank.
- Department for International Development (DFID) (2005). How to leverage the co-operative movement for poverty reduction. DFID Growth and Investment Group. Retrieved from http://www.caledonia.org.uk/papers/How-tocooperatives-DFID-2005.pdf.
