1.1 Introduction
The consumer cooperative society toady is going through some difficulties in the local government of Idemili North Consumer cooperative has been concerned with a systematic, preservation and the dissemination of knowledge in the system. This consumer cooperative has not been very successful in Idemili North due to problems surrounding them. This society would be a better and more effective society if they have formed themselves into cooperative registered society according to the law.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The consumer cooperative society has been intimately concerned with acquisition, systematic, preservation and dissemination of her cooperative knowledge. As they proceed, there is need to make these Observations being recorded in journals, and books. Other non materials more accessible to users for convenient and immediate consultation to the members become more imperative. Consumer cooperative in Idemili North coordinated better methods of farming and encouraged the farmers creativity. They protected the farmers interest as well as selling quality goods at affordable rates.
The infrastructure for affective communication network needs to be established in their various zone of operations provision of reliable roads and associated facilities to alleviate the general rigors/dangers the members encounter when carrying out transaction to distant market places. Consumer and marketing cooperative have not been very successful in Idemili North due to problems surrounding them. There would be a better and more effective society if they had formed themselves into cooperatives registered according to law. These are because of the predominance of illiteracy. They lack the education and enlightenment programme which have helped to enhance the level of performance and understanding of what consumer cooperative is all about.
Historical knowledge has always been considered a necessary step for discussing contemporary issue as regards to the present. It gives insight into the nature of problems and directs attention to what is going on around the consumer cooperative in Idemili North of Anambra State.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to find out the Problems and Prospects of Consumer Co-operative Society.
1.3 Statement of Problems
This project covers the problems faced by the consumer cooperative in Idemili North Local council. Idemili North as a geographical reference for this project has some factors which affects the consumer cooperative society. They as follow:
- Lack of trust among it’s members ie there is no trust among the consumer cooperative members in Idemili north of Anambra State.
- Incompetence in the executive of consumer cooperative of Idemili North.
- Lack of capital to carry out large scale retail trading and transactions in Idemili North.
- There is stiff competition from low lost traders in Idemili North. There are equally other sources which sell consumer goods at cheaper rates. Consumers cooperative were unable to withstand this competition.
- Management problems – Inefficiency which led to the wrong people being chosen as the right one. The rudiment nature of bookkeeping might turn to stealing/diversion of funds by manipulation of fraud.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to identify the Problems and Prospects of Consumer Co-operative Society using Idemili North LGA, of Anambra State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the minor and major problems of consumer cooperative in Idemili North L.G.A perhaps to assess the prospects of consumer cooperative and how their operations can be modernized to the recent standards.
- To examine what the consumer cooperative has to specify on their system of operative and activities so as to achieve maximum effectiveness.
- To proffer help to know the number of consumer cooperative in Anambra State particularly Idemili North.
- To improve on consumer cooperative education scheme that will provide member with expounded knowledge of the cooperative.
- To make recommendation on how consumer cooperative would re-enhance its programmes.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is cooperative relevant in Nigeria and what are the benefits of cooperative society in Nigeria?
- How can we bring the problems and prospect of consumer cooperative society understudy?
- How can we correct the weakness that occurs in consumer cooperative society?
- What are the Issues faced by consumer cooperatives society?
- What are the prospects proffered by the society while distributing the goods and services?
- What role does consumer cooperative play in order to set up their targets and objectives, usefulness, economic reliability, shortcomings and relevance in this modern time?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: There is no significant issue faced by consumer co-operative society in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State
- H1: There is a significant issue faced by consumer co-operative society in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State
1.7 Significance of Study
The importance of the study cannot be over emphasized because of the some categories of people in consumer and market cooperative society. The exercise has helped the consumer cooperative to see the need for consistent evaluation of learning/operative for the improvement of the state in general.
The consumer cooperative will have a significant benefit as a result of improving the marketing techniques for large distribution.
However, this will help to uplift consumer cooperative and its knowledge, to the standard of emulation by the Idemili North consumer cooperative. More so, it will help the student on the project write up (ND).
While planning the curriculum of consumer cooperative, the findings of the study will enable then to create interest on consumer cooperative activities.
Finally, hope that by discovering the problems of the study, it will encourage the consumer cooperative to work greatly towards specification for higher achievements and their progress.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Problems and Prospects of Consumer Co-operative Society using Idemili North LGA, of Anambra State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Consumer cooperative society: This is a society which engaged in sale of manufactured/consumer products to the members at a reasonable price. They are also similar to other cooperative but for the fact that they are mainly found in the rural area while the members are mostly farmers. They may be called service centre for the benefit of their members.
Bulking buying: This is buying large quantity of goods at controlled price and selling to members and others at affordable control prices.
Patronage Rebate: This is share they usually have at the end of the year based on the degree of participation, they are also paid dividend on shares.
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