CHAPTER ONE
- INTRODUCTION
The lack of data on the level of involvement of women in the economy, activities in Nigeria had made it impossible to assess the roles and contribution towards the economic growth of Nigeria.
Through women contribute over 80% of the national food supply, their economic power are still limited. They have limited access to ownership of land and housing, limited participation in nation building. Women empowerment is determined by the society and also by the societal perception.
One cannot therefore overemphasize the important role which cooperative movement can play on the lives of women in Nigeria especially in this era of food shortage and economic depression. This present study, goes on to investigate the contribution of cooperative society in the economic empowerment of women and the problem militating against the full participation of women in the cooperative society with a view of making recommendation.
1.1 GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY
History has shown that development can occur only when every member that constitute the society participates in its development.
Hence development should be see as a collective responsibility of all the people that makes up the society irrespective of sex, age and class.
Though women contribute over 80% of the national food supply, their economic power are still limited. They have limited access to ownership of the land and housing, limited participation in nation building. The role of women in economic empowerment is determined by the society and also by the societal perception of the status generally.
It is certain that the cooperative society play an increasingly significant role in satisfying material, social and potential need of their rural and urban women in Nigeria.
It was as a result of the federal republic of Nigeria, National development plan policy aimed at fostering the growth of cooperative movement as an instrument for achieving increased agricultural production and rural transformation. Some of this programme such as FADAMA programme for farmers which are in farmer’s cooperative society, better life for rural women, family support programme.
Inspite of the government emphasis on the needs for Nigerians to form cooperative societies in order to achieve self sufficiency in food production, especially during this period of economic melt-down, we are yet to experience the women’s full participation in cooperative societies.
Out of a population of 140 million only 2.4% of Nigerian women are cooperators.
The present study goes on to investigate the role of cooperative society in Economic empowerment of women and the problem militating against the full participation of women in cooperative society with view of making recommendation.
- STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
It has been universally accepted that no nation can achieve a full economic power and sustainable growth, when it leaves women in the development process. it is quite imperative for developing nation to consider both, sustainable human development and economic growth, however, in Nigeria we find that to varying women especially rural women constitute socially, economically and practically disadvantaged group when compared to their male counterparts.
The introduction of cooperative society in Nigeria is to correct the imbalance, this is to be solved in this research work which centered on the role and relevance of cooperative society towards the empowerment and educational development of women.