THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CO-OPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION
1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Over the years, government has been making several attempts to meet the inelastic needs of communities with their limited resources, but this has not been efficacious. Hence, community development according to Eze. C (1999: 126) is one of the alternative vehicles for the positive transformation of societies. Mere (1982:304) also emphasized that community development is an instrument of social betterment and upliftment of communities.  Also, the United Nations in 1956 gave a definition of community development which is now accepted world wide. According to them, it is a “process by which the efforts of the people are united with those of governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities, to integrate these communities into the life of the nation and enable them to contribute fully to the national progress” (Khindula, 1971).
Considering these view points, there is need for assistance from other bodies to supplement the effort of the government to encourage better life pattern for members of the society. It is based on this that women organize themselves in groups for help activities in towns and village. Women are involved in all the stages of community development process beginning from the identification of felt needs, down to execution and evaluation of projects. They carry out enlightenment programs for government policies in tracking their members, the value of family child care and home economics. Most importantly, they assist extension workers to penetrate into the women folk of the community.
Through group efforts, women have tried to introduce the understanding of changes taking place in the society at large and how to cope with the challenges brought about by such changes. They promote religious belief, the care of motherless and abandoned children, the care of destitute, promotion of modern home management, encouragement of education at nursery and primary school level, day care centers, etc. these women could be co-operative, self help groups, welfare groups, church groups, collective and exchange work groups which are geared towards the economic, Social and political development.
The wisdom and determinant quality deposited in the women of Umuagwu community has gone a long way in development project. Just like any other community. Women group in Umuagwu has contributed immensely towards the development of their community. These women embark upon many physical projects like the building of shops and walling of the market, building of maternity, renting of canopies, etc. Infact, the important role they play in the social and economic development of Umuagwu and the society at large, cannot be over emphasized.
As mothers of the home, they play critical roles in education and socialization of the children in teaching new trends of home management, maintenance of the body, environmental cleanliness and as well contributing to the physical development of the society. In any form their services are required; they are always willing to do so. No limit should be placed on what they can collectively constitute to community development because women constitute a powerful social class. However, the attempt by women to come together and work in such groupings has been hindered by several factors. Often times, the role of women in community development in Nigeria is perceived as secondary and most times, very inferior to that of men.
In our society, the factors militating against the role of women in community development, has caused a lot of economic, social and political set backs. At times, the principal obstacle to the role of women in community development in Nigeria are not intentional, they are as a result of unexamined assumptions about women’s cares, interest, unquestioned over a time.
Meanwhile, this study aims at investigating factors that delays and inhibits the role of women in community development in Umuagwu in order to provide solutions to the problems.