Project Abstract

Co-operative economics and management play a crucial role in today's economic landscape, offering a unique and sustainable alternative to traditional business models. This research aims to explore the importance of studying co-operative economics and management in the context of fostering economic development, promoting social equality, and ensuring environmental sustainability. Co-operatives are member-owned enterprises that operate based on principles of democratic control, voluntary participation, and shared benefits. By studying co-operative economics and management, researchers can gain valuable insights into how these principles can be effectively applied to create resilient and inclusive economic systems. Understanding the dynamics of co-operatives can provide essential knowledge for policymakers, business leaders, and community organizers seeking to build more sustainable and equitable societies. One of the key reasons for studying co-operative economics and management is their potential to drive local economic development. Co-operatives have been shown to contribute to job creation, wealth retention, and community empowerment. By studying successful co-operative models, researchers can identify best practices for fostering entrepreneurship, supporting small businesses, and revitalizing local economies. This knowledge is particularly relevant in the context of economic crises or declining industries, where co-operatives can offer a viable alternative to traditional corporate structures. Furthermore, studying co-operative economics and management is essential for promoting social equality and empowerment. Co-operatives are often founded by marginalized groups seeking to address specific economic or social challenges. By examining the role of co-operatives in promoting gender equality, supporting minority communities, and empowering workers, researchers can uncover strategies for building more inclusive and participatory economies. This research is crucial for advancing social justice and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups to thrive in the marketplace. Finally, studying co-operative economics and management is vital for ensuring environmental sustainability. Co-operatives are known for their commitment to environmental stewardship, resource conservation, and sustainable practices. By investigating how co-operatives integrate environmental concerns into their business models, researchers can develop insights into how businesses can operate in harmony with the planet. This knowledge is critical for addressing pressing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and natural resource depletion. In conclusion, the study of co-operative economics and management is essential for fostering economic development, promoting social equality, and ensuring environmental sustainability. By exploring the principles and practices of co-operatives, researchers can provide valuable insights for building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies. This research is crucial for addressing the complex challenges facing our global society and creating a more just and prosperous future for all.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

Co-operative Economics and Management in tertiary institutions help to improve the co-operative growth and development, quality manpower in co-operative.

The importance of studying co-operative in schools and tertiary institutions could as well known as co-operative education and is at the heart of co-operative for work motivation, growth, development, commitments in co-operative because is said that once a co-operative is always a co-operative.

Despite these, many co-operatives have failed in their respective institutions or organizations because their members indispositions to the cooperative education or without organizing the importance of cooperative education to members. Cooperative education is an indisputable part of cooperative function.

Therefore, I now wish to research for the importance of studying Co-operative Economics and Management in tertiary institutions, the strategics and to suggest few solutions out off the million solutions to the failure of cooperative practices in the institutions or organizations.

I have chosen institute of management and technology (IMT) Enugu as my case study.

Furthermore, why education is necessary co-operative. Through the one hundred and 40 years of co-operative history, eminent cooperators have always insisted on the importance of education to the cooperative movement. Robert Owen emphasized, education for citizenship to achievement of a just and moral society.

Rochdale Pioneer followed in his foot ships. They studied and held discussion for one year before founding their society. In 1884 they amended their statute to provide that 21/2% of their profit should be aside for educational purposes because human resources is very essential to cooperative movement.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Prior to the establishment of institute of management and technology Enugu, there existed till 1967 a college of technology up to the ordinary diploma level. An institution of administration which provide short in services training courses for civil servants of various grades and a cooperative college which offered a certificate course in cooperative studies to co-operative aspects from the ministry of industry, trade and cooperative.

These institutions were separated and separately located. The college of technology was parts of the ministry of education and was controlled, directed by the ministry.

Similarly, the institution of administration was controlled by the ministry of establishment, while the cooperative college was directly under the ministry of rural development.

These institutions were staff by civil servants who were posted and re-posted from one department to another according to the need of civil service.

And after 1970, there came the need for higher institution of learning to upgrade the training in the technological and managerial field in which there were several need for manpower development.

The future graduates in the technology and management and their allied field would be more effective by functional training than the programme they offered by the college of technology and to institute of administrations. To the founding father, their main aim was the maximization of management efficiency and of professional and technical expertise and the acquisition of the additional tool for these.

The close coupling of management and technology in the new objectives was needless and not fruitful. The management and technology of today needs training, education, for effective and efficiency satisfaction and fulfilment of itself and role in the world in which applied science entrails more and more problems of both moral and ecological significance.