Abstract

       The contribution of cooperative societies towards women empowerment was studied with Owerri West as the case study. Data was generated by questionnaires distributed among registered cooperative societies and women in rural areas. It is a well established fact that women have participated less on national building due to less participation in politics. Cooperative have contributed by providing farm inputs to women among other empowerment roles education of women is vital towards empowering women. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page

Approval  page                                                                                         ii

Dedication                                                                                                 iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                    iv

Abstract                                                                                                     v

Table of contents                                                                                               vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION                                                                                      1

1. General Overview of the study                                                     2
   1. Statement of problem                                                                     4
   1. Objectives of the study                                                                  4
   1. Research questions                                                                       5
   1. Significance of study                                                                     6
   1. Scope of the study                                                                         7
   1. Limitation of the study                                                                              7
   1. Definition of terms                                                                          8

CHAPTER TWO

• Literature review                                                                                       10
  • Introduction                                                                                     10
  • Concept of women empowerment                                                         10
  • The role cooperative play in empowering women                      12
  • Cooperative and types of cooperative                                         14
  • The economic benefits of joining cooperative                                      18
  • The economic status of women in Nigeria                                  21
  • Contemporary over uses of women participation

in cooperative society.                                                                             22

• Factors militating against effective participation of women                 23
  • Solutions to the problems identified in women participation      27

References

CHAPTER THREE

• Research design and methodology                                             30
  • Introduction                                                                                     30
  • Research design                                                                                      30
  • Sources of data                                                                              31
  • Population and sample size                                                          32
  • Sample technique                                                                          34
  • Validity and reliability of measuring instrument                           35
  • Method of data analysis                                                                35

CHAPTER FOUR

• Data presentation and analysis of  data                                                37
  • Introduction                                                                                     37
  • Presentation of data                                                                       37
  • Analysis of data                                                                                        38
  • Interpretation of results                                                                            43

CHAPTER FIVE

• Summary, conclusion and recommendations                                      45
  • Introduction                                                                                     45
  • Summary of findings                                                                      45
  • Conclusion                                                                                                46
  • Recommendations                                                                         46

Bibliography                                                                                    49

Appendix

Questionnaire

CHAPTER ONE

1. 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 constitutes the society participates in its development.

Hence development should be seen 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.