The co-operative moment began in Europe in the 19th century, primarily in Britain and France although the shove porter society claims to be one of the world’s first co-operative being established in Aberdeen in1498 (although is has since demutualized to become a private partnership). The industrial revolution and the increasing mechanism of the economy transformed society and threatened the livelihoods of many workers. They attempted to address describe the climate at the time. The first documented consumer co-operative was founded in 1769 in barely furnished cottage in Fenwick, East Ayrshire, when local weaver man handled a seeks of oatmeal into John walkers white washed from room and began selling the contest at a discount forming the Fenwick weavers society.
The problem of developing the rural area has received the attention of many experts and researchers as well as the government. This is because it constitutes a serious bottleneck to the socio-economic development of the country as well as the communities. It is in the light of this, that I have decided to examine how rural areas would be developed with the help or assistance of co-operative societies using Idah local Government as the case study.
Rural development according to Diejomoah (2003) is “ The process of not only increasing the level of per capital income in the rural area but also the standard of living of the rural population measured by food and nutrition level, health, education, housing, recreation and security. Also Rural development according to UNO (1960) is “The process by which the effort of he people themselves are United with effort that of government authorities to improved the economic social and cultural conditions of the rural communities to integrate those community into life of the nation and to enable them contribute meaningful to national development.
Therefore, Rural Development is an integration activity involving the Implementation of programmes of agriculture, health, education, home management, provision of infrastructure and other community facilities under the supervision of the government, its agencies and the local people.
Co-operative society is one of the principal agent of rural development. It is not only an avenue for job opportunities, but also as a training ground for the rural dwellers and other society and economic benefits. Hence, it is a strong factor in the nations economic development.
Helms (2005) on the other hand defines co-operative society as an association of persons who have voluntarily joined together to have a common end through the formation of a democratically controlled enterprise, making equitable contribution to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risk and benefit of the undertaking in which the member activity participate. On the other hand it could be seen as a voluntarily association of persons having mutual ownership in providing themselves some needed service on non-profit basis usually organized as a legal entity to accomplish objectives through joint participation of its members.
1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A co-operative society is an autonomous association of person united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and aultival needs and aspiration through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
A co-operative society is another means for forming a legal entity to conduit business besides forming a company. Is it possible to business co-operative society to people seeking a co-operative society when they require it services does co-operative society need to be. Those questions were used almost two decade ago.
Creation of mankind co-operative has entrusted between the first man that is Adam and the first woman Eve, with those devil it seen co-operative was especially designed by God for the human race. Furthermore co-operative is not limited to man alone. It also occur among insect such as ant, termite etc. the world co-operative is said to be derived from two lotion words ‘co-operative’ meaning together and ‘operation’ meaning cause to work be in action with others. Therefore this definition helps to remembers that co-operative does not consist of a small compact group of ideas or practice but is sometimes much bigger namely a form of organization or a way of doing things. It is said that many worker who ordinarily would have remained poor due to the low saltines and entitlement or even rich due to their membership of cooperative societies.
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1.2      OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of the study are to examine the impact of co-operative society on the living standard of unilever members. Te objective are:
1.3      LIMITATION OF THE STUDY ÂÂ
The major lamination of this research work will be time, there may be limited to conduct the research, also accuracy of the information provided and probably financial constraints to carry out the research to the derived level.
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1.4      RESEARCH QUESTION
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1.5      STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
Ho.     There is no significant relationship between the co-operative society and organizational
development.
Hi.      There is significant relationship between the co-operative society and organizational
development.
Ho.     Co-operative society does not improve the standard of living of its member.
Hi.      Co-operative society improves the standard of living of its members.
Ho:   There are no significant relationship between cooperative societies and the employee of
an organization.
Hi:    There are significant relationship between cooperative societies and the employee of an
organization
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1.6    IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
This project will be very useful to member of the organization who are contemplating on establishing a co-operative society in the area of its contribution to the development and benefit available for knowledge of co-operative society.
Co-operative societies are important in order to help organize mutual benefit within a co-operative structure society in its original tribal form. Jobs are allocated and resource exchanged among each other and done with external communities. Now co-operative societies are extremely important mortgage and professional credit within banks.
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1.7        SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this project will be on co-operative society its organization information and some of its problem. Its purpose is to be limited to the topic area alone but like house Endeavor to go a little further to give the reader more knowledge about co-operative activities. We also want to go beyond this but as a result of financial constraint we could not but we hope this let will be very useful to anybody who want to know anything about co-operative society.
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1.8   DEFINITION OF TERMS      ÂÂ
CO-OPERATIVE: Is a group of people acting together to meet the common needs and aspirations of its member, sharing ownership and making decision democratically.
HYPOTHESIS: Are tentative statement about the possible solution to the problem you are in estimating.
SHARE OF MEMBER: Member contribution or part of co-operative profit to be disbursed to members or profit that belongs to members.
CO-OPERATIVE: This is an organization of people of common interest whose aim is to cater for their members.
CO-OPERATIVES: As association of persons usually of limited means who have come together to achieve a common economic goal through equitable contribution.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Rural Development in a multi dimensional process by which productivity, income and welfare in terms of health, nutrition, education and other features of satisfactory life of rural people can be improved or transformed.