HISTORY OF THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA

HISTORY OF THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA

The modem type of cooperative was introduced formally into Nigeria by the colonial government in Nigeria that is the British colonial administration in 1935.

The British colonial government had in 1904 introduced the cooperative movement into India which was one of the Bri6tish colonial government in India enacted a cooperative law in India. Following the success recorded in India, the British colonial government in Nigeria tried to experiment the introduction of cooperative in Nigeria.

The year 1935 cooperative movement in Nigeria was taken by the colonial government in Nigeria to enact the Nigeria cooperative society’s ordinance.

The government tried to investigate the possibility and desirability of introducing the cooperative movement into the colony of Nigeria. Thus in 1933 the government invited a cooperative expert, Mr. C.F. Strickland, C.I.E, from India and request him to make an investigative tour of Nigeria and to advice the Nigeria government on the desirability and possibility of introducing cooperative movement into the colony of Nigeria Mr. C.F Strickland carried out the investigation and submitted his report and the 17th April, 1934.in the report battled report on the strongly recommended the introduction of the cooperative movement into the colony of Nigeria, main training that cooperative societies would help to improve the economic and social conditions of Nigeria and among other.

The report was accepted by the government. After the acceptance, the government enacted the first Nigeria cooperative society’s law. In 1935 while in 1936 regulation were drawn up to guide the running of cooperative societies. Cooperative cocoa societies stared in the western part of Nigeria. In 1938, worker formed cooperative thrift and loan societies in the eastern and western of Nigeria.

Mr. Strickland was skeptical about the Africans ability to organize the run of cooperative on their owner, he therefore, recommended for serious government intervention, can troll guidance and involvement form the asset in cooperative matters in Nigeria. Then government adopted wholly Mr. Strickland’s recommendation and went ahead to organize and control cooperative and it has continued till the present day almost in its totality.

In 1936 major E.F.C. Haig was appointed the first register of cooperative societies in Nigeria. While in 1937, Mr. J.U Eke, M.B.E was appointed as the first inspector of cooperative in eastern Nigeria and he worked in calabar province. As soon as the cooperative movement was introduce into the country it started to grow. By the end of 1944, there were one hundred and eight one (181) cooperative societies in Nigeria. Different types of cooperative societies were springing up in various part of the country such as:
i. Produce marketing cooperative societies in the western.
ii. Credit and consumer cooperative in the east.
iii. Credit and market cooperative in the Northern provinces. Therefore, cooperative thrift and loan societies sprang up in those urban centers and spread to other towns.

The history of cooperative movement in Nigeria has been one of continuous growth. For better appreciation it is grouped into three stages:
1. The stage that describes the introduction or birth of the movement to the Rockdale centenary conference helps in Lagos in august, 1944.
2. The stage describes the regionalization of the movement in 1951, and
3. The state that describes the period of consolidation.

ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF MODERN COOPERATION

Cooperative ideals which metamorphosis into the Rocha dale equitable pioneers had origin Thus what is today regarded as the modern type cooperative movement owes its basic beginning to toad to the activities of in Rocha dale equitable pioneers of toad lane, England in 1844. It is of interested to note here that cooperative is as old as man.

The Rockdale pioneers were the first to go into business as a cooperative and to register. They opened a retail consumer shop according to the cooperative principle volunteer democracy Common ownership and equity. Every one brought shares of one pound each and brought their supplies from the shop in cash according to their rules. Their officers were honest highly committed and fully accountable their methods led them to success and they become a model for cooperative all over the world. The secret of their success can trace to the following factors.

1. Application of owenite idealism
2. Adoption of business-life

• Enlightened and committed membership

1. Lessons learnt from the failure of pre-Rockdale cooperative

They started with a shop using it as the foundation for further development, providing the member with self-employment and finally establishing a self-supporting community.

 SCOPE OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETY EDUCATION

The scope of cooperative education include

1. Information: this involves informing the general public about cooperative developments.
2. Member education: this refers to the development of members potentials for social action and personal growth

• Training of cooperative employees

1. Government official and would be members.