ABSTRACT

This study is "the role of cooperative societies in financial resource mobilization and utilization in Oshimili South L. G. A., Delta State". The broad objective of this study was to identify the roles of cooperatives with respect to financial resource mobilization and utilization in the area of study. The research instruments used were questionnaires which were distributed randomly to the cooperative societies. A number of sixteen multi-purpose cooperative societies out of thirty-five were interviewed with a total of one hundred and four respondents. Cooperative data were also given to support the information in the questionnaires. The methodology used was descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis for good and comprehensive results. The results of the study showed that cooperative societies generate fund mainly from internal and external sources such as share contribution, savings and loans. Share contributions increases total shares of the cooperatives. Availability of funds, cooperatives bye-laws were mainly the criteria for resource allocation. Farmer's experience and size of farm were the factors that affected members' access to finance. Insufficient capital resource and change in economic situation were the constraints encountered by cooperatives and members in mobilization and utilization. However cooperative societies should encourage members to make greater share contributions, make enough savings, maintain their bye2laws, upgrade their funds, train their members; as such this will improve the activities of the cooperative and improve the capital resource and change the economic situation for cooperative improvement, by using their fund for community development, 'encouragement of members to be self-reliant and members entitlements.