1. 1. Background of the Study

There are many definitions of cooperatives but for the purpose of this research work. We define Cooperatives, I.C.A. (1995) as “An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise. While Babcolle, H. B. said “A corporative is a legal, practical means by which a group of self selected persons seek to improve their economic position in a competitive society”.

From the above definitions one would note that cooperative is a business organization established by the economically weak member of the society with the sole aim of improving their economic circumstances.

However economic development does not connote a general increased in the output of goods and services. It is a means of improving the condition of work and living standard of majority of the people. The main objectives that economic development should promote a greater sense of confidence and self-reliance in the economy. Thus economic development is therefore a process in which the problems of poverty, deprivation as well as human degradation is being eliminated or minimized. This means that economic development must seek to transform the society and its people to a better status. Hence this calls for a conscious effort on the part of the authority and people themselves.

The cooperative business was initially established to fight against profits and exploitation. It aimed at transferring economic power to the members who established the business. This is evidence by the fact that in developed countries likes Germany, Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Israel. The cooperative sectors played a vital role in socio economic transformation of their people.