The Impact of Co-Operative Societies on Local Community Development in Nigeria (A Case Study Of Sapele Delta State)

INTRODUCTION

For effective Local Community Development in Nigeria, various Successive governments have embarked on several programme such as:

1.       Agricultural Development Project

2.       Poverty Alleviation Societies

3.       Co-operative Societies

4.       Credit Scheme and Micro Finance

In Nigeria today Community development has been given some serious attention for the first time only during the third National Development Plan (1975-1930) it was the beginning of the general Babangida’s administration that the federal government began to really translate what has been on paper in positive dynamic action.

The co-operative Society was seen as a Panaca (Solution) for local Communities transformation, Federal government has intensified their comparing for the formation of co-operative societies, especially the Agricultural Co-operative societies, this is due to the recognition of the fact that efficient Co-operative societies can arise the productivity total output, and incomes of producers mainly due to the education, nationalization and competition effects.

According to Idere (1998), Co-operative Societies generally have been recognized as veritable instrument for social – economic development and local communities changes. Also co-operative societies have been found as the most appropriate avenue for local government mobilization organization modern co-operative movement had it origin in Britain in 1844. It was the product of harsh, aggressive Cut threat common man and his basis Consumer items stood along chain of profiteering middle man, Landlord and money lenders. This co-operative society movement began to spread to other, parts of Europe and eventually other parts of the word including Nigeria.

In the Year 1933, the co-operative ordinance was enabled by the Colonial masters, thus co-operative was seen as an investment for social economic transformation especially, for local communities.