THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATION IN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN ENUGU STATE

ABSTRACT The study was aimed at determining the importance of cooperative education in effective management of cooperative societies in Enugu State, Nigeria. Four research objectives and corresponding research questions guided the study. Relevant literature related to the study was reviewed. A descriptive study design was used and Taro Yamane formula was used to determine a sample size of 76 participants. The analysis leverages both primary and secondary data, including responses from cooperative stakeholders as well as empirical research from various sources and questions were formulated based on the objectives of the study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequency distribution tables and percentages. Findings shows the how the respondents heard about cooperative education and training, 33(43%) of the respondents indicated that they heard about cooperative education/training from cooperative members and extension staffs, 25(33%) of the respondents heard about cooperative education/training from social media while 18(24%) of the respondents indicated that they got their information from other sources. findings indicates the dominate cooperatives in Udi LGA, Enugu state. 25(33%) of the respondents were multipurpose cooperative societies and agricultural cooperative members, 5(7%) of the respondents representing marketing cooperatives and insurance cooperative societies, 6(8%) of the respondents representing thrift and credit cooperative societies, while 10(13%) of the respondents representing transport cooperative societies. Findings shows factors affecting cooperative education/training of management of cooperative business enterprise. The Probit results on factors affecting education/training of committee of cooperative business enterprise show that gender and accountability significantly affect their performance. There is a negative relationship between gender and performance at 7% significant level. Male members were less likely to perceive that cooperatives make profit than women. Respondents also viewed that high level of accountability is associated with high performance. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were made.