LEADERSHIP ROLE AND COOPERATIVE PROMOTION

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Author

Presented To

Department of Economics

ABSTRACT

In this research work titled “Leadership Role and Cooperative Promotion in Nkanu West Of Enugu State” Data for the study was sourced from two main sources Primary and Secondary. Primary data were sourced from the use of questionnaires and oral interviews. Secondary data were sourced from journals, and other relevant materials. Extensive literature review was carried out on the direct literature and indirect literature on books, journals and past works. The research instrument used in this study includes oral interview and questionnaire. The questionnaire is structural as to contain both close and open ended question. Simple tables and percentages were used in treatment of data. At the end the researcher found out that Leadership has significant effect on cooperative promotion in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state. It was also observed that leadership influences the development of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state. This study equally shows that leadership has so many roles to play in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state. The researcher also discovered that there are so many challenges of leadership in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state. based on the findings the researcher recommends that government and other relevant agencies should intensify effect to create awareness to cooperative farmers in the study area about leadership roles, qualities expected and the importance of leadership style to the success of their various agricultural cooperatives. The government should provide capital, tractors, fertilizers and seedling for farmers in Enugu State so that the increase and improve their yields.  In other words to have high turn over.  This will help to reduce their poverty. Government in Enugu State should try to provide trained personnel to the farmer so that they can know more about cooperative education and modern methods of farming.  If illiteracy is not eliminated, it will constitute a lot of problems to the farmers.

1.0                                INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

According to Aniodo (2010) a co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, Social and cultural need and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratic venture.   

Co- operative is a voluntary and democratic association of persons with variable membership and variable capital whose members pooled themselves and their resources together on mutual and self help resources together on mutual and self help basis of form a business enterprise on mutual and self help basis to form a business enterprise which seeks to solve the social-economic problems of these members by directly providing goods and services to them in their capacity as either the owner/customer or owner-employees of the co-operative enterprise.

Cooperative promotion is the art of creating a cooperative society by group of individuals in the same line of business or trade with same vision.

Leadership is both a research area and a practical skill encompassing the ability of an individual or organization to "lead" or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The literature debates various viewpoints: contrasting Eastern and Western approaches to leadership, and also (within the West) US vs. European approaches. US academic environments define leadership as "a process of social influence in which a person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Leadership seen from a European and non-academic perspective encompasses a view of a leader who can be moved not only by communitarian goals but also by the search for personal power.

Leadership has significant role to play in the formation of cooperative society, for a cooperative to be formed the leaders of such cooperative must have the interest of the members at hearth failure to do so the cooperative is bound to fail at the formation stage. In view of this, this research work tends to examine leadership role and cooperative promotion in Nkanu west of Enugu state.

1.2 Problem Statement 

Government inability to recognize co-operative as an independent tool for economic and social development is what gives rise to their stifling control on co-operatives. This makes it hard in getting co-operative autonomy. Government should not see co-operative autonomy.

Government should not see co-operative as it's parastatal, it does not mean that co-operative should work outside government regulation. This reflects Dr. Kings believes, that a right type of government must exist to assist co-operatives before they can flourish, Ebue, (2011).

Therefore this research will be faced with the problem of analyzing the effect of officialization (over-interference and control of co-operatives by government) with special attention on the extent to which government support and promotion can lead to officialization.

In line with the above, government's inability to grant co-operatives the needed autonomy and stop undue interference on them (co-operatives) will be a step ahead in the realization of the objectives for which co- operatives exist. Also, government's inability to make co-operative laws and principles which give them the needed autonomy and officialization constitute a huge problem in the control and management of the industry. The above problems led the researcher to embark on this interesting topic.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to examine leadership role and cooperative promotion in Nkanu west of Enugu state. The specific objectives of this research work includes the following;

1.  To examine the effect of leadership on the cooperative promotion in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

2.  To evaluate the effect of leadership on the development of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

3.  To examine the role of leadership in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

4.  To identify the challenges of leadership in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state and also proffer possible solutions to the problems identified.

1.4 Research Question

1.  What are the effects of leadership on the cooperative promotion in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state?

2.  Does leadership have any effect on the development of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state?

3.  What are the roles of leadership in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state?

4.  What are the challenges leadership in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

1.5 Research  Hypotheses

Ho: Leadership does not have any effect on the cooperative promotion in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

H1: Leadership has significant effect on the cooperative promotion in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

Ho: Leadership does not influence the development of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

H1: Leadership influences the development of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

Ho: Leadership does not play any role in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

H1: Leadership plays significant role in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

Ho: There are no leadership challenges in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

H1: There are so many leadership challenges in the formation of cooperative in Nkanu west local government Area of Enugu state.

1.6 Significance Of The Study

The significance of any human endeavor is measured by it's relevance to solving human problems. This research will be beneficial to the following:

The Researcher: it will help to broaden his mind and develop his investigation skills, also it will make it possible for the researcher to be awarded Higher national diploma in corporative economics and management.

Government: It will help to enlighten government on their policy making and also minimize the level of leadership tousle among corporative societies.

To co-operatives: Especially in Nkanu west L.G.A. it will them to always be meticulous in their dealing with external bodies (government and other institutions).

1.7 Scope of the Study

Scope of the study: The coverage of this study will be Nkanu west L.G.A in Enugu state due to the wide range or vast nature of Nigeria.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

In effort to carry out this research, the researcher was faced with the problems of time, finance and visitation of the researcher being a student has issues that can consume her time and finance, e.g. attendance to lecturers, class assignments and seminars, including other school activities. She faced other problems such as other problems such as distribution and collection of questionnaire from the people in the area of study. At last al the challenges were surmounted and successful research was made. The researcher encountered a lot of problems and constraints during the study. Among them are:

People's liability to give out information.

Most people whom the researcher approached with the intention to collect information on the study, were reluctant in giving out the needed information. It was later-on that the researcher found out through the interviews she had with then, (the respondents) that their names made public or be misquoted by the researcher.

Equipped Libraries

Most of the libraries the researcher visited for information were poorly equipped. There were some of them which did not have contemporary textbooks, journals and other sources of information on this topic of study.

This made the researcher to spend much time and money in her bid to collect data need for this study. Irrespective of these challenges encouraged by the researcher, she was able to make proper use of the research materials within their disposal.

1.9  Definition Of Terms

It is important to give a brief definition of the following key terms, in order to know the meaning of the key concept and some words in the research project.

DEVELOPMENT: According to Todarro 1977, he defines development as a many sided process involving changes in structure, institutions and attitude as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction in inequality and eradication of hunger and poverty in a given society.

RURAL AREAS: An area, which is so backward in terms of social amenities and other materials found in urban areas.

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.

CO-OPERATIVES:   As association of persons usually of limited means who have come together to achieve a common economic goal through equitable contribution.

PROBLEMS: Difficulties encountered by co-operatives as a result of by government influence on them.

PROSPECTS: Ways in which co-operatives will be successful without government influence and officialization.