Principles of Cooperative Practices

1. Explain the meaning, structure, types, and history of cooperatives.
2. Identify and apply cooperative principles and values in practical situations.
3. Manage cooperative finances, including capital sources and financial statements.
4. Understand loan management techniques and strategies for preventing loan delinquency.
5. Analyze cooperative agribusiness ventures and their limitations in Nigeria.
6. Apply effective management functions in cooperative settings.

13 weeks, about 42 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Evaluation of Cooperatives

   • Unit 1: Meaning of Cooperatives · 2 hours

     Define cooperatives and identify their key elements.. Explain the role of government in cooperative formation and management.. Discuss the reasons why people engage in cooperation..

   • Unit 2: Structure of Cooperatives · 2 hours

     Distinguish between different classes of cooperative societies.. Describe the organizational structure of cooperative societies.. Identify the levels of cooperation or areas covered by cooperatives..

2. Week 2Module 1: Evaluation of Cooperatives

   • Unit 3: History of Cooperatives · 3 hours

     Discuss the history of modern cooperatives, focusing on the Rochdale Pioneers.. Describe the development of cooperatives in Nigeria, including early indigenous forms.. Explain the role of the Cooperative Ordinance of 1935..

   • Unit 4: Types of Cooperative Societies · 2 hours

     Explain the various types of cooperative societies.. Identify the common interests of people involved in different cooperative types.. Differentiate between agricultural, consumer, and thrift and credit cooperatives..

3. Week 3Module 2: Cooperative as a form of business

   • Unit 1: Cooperative as a form of Business · 3 hours

     State the main objectives of cooperative societies as a form of business organization.. Differentiate various business structures used by cooperatives.. Mention ways cooperatives help in developing business skills of members..

4. Week 4Module 2: Cooperative as a form of business

   • Unit 2: Motive and Survival of Cooperative Societies · 3 hours

     State the economic motives for forming a cooperative society.. Mention sociological motives for forming a cooperative society.. Enumerate the factors that can determine the survival or failure of cooperatives..

5. Week 5Module 2: Cooperative as a form of business

   • Unit 3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Cooperatives as compared to other businesses. · 3 hours

     Explain the advantages of cooperatives as a form of business compared to other businesses.. List the disadvantages of cooperatives as a form of business.. Discuss the role of democratic management and limited resources..

6. Week 6Module 2: Cooperative as a form of business

   • Unit 4: Benefits and Limitations of Agricultural Cooperatives. · 3 hours

     Discuss the benefits of agricultural cooperatives to farmers and rural communities.. State how rural communities can benefit from agricultural cooperatives.. Enumerate the limitations of agricultural cooperatives, such as production control and price fixing..

7. Week 7Module 2: Cooperative as a form of business

   • Unit 5: Cooperative Agribusiness ventures · 3 hours

     Compare cooperatives as a business with other forms of business organizations in agriculture.. List and explain failure factors in cooperative agribusiness ventures.. Identify strategies for overcoming problems of cooperative agribusiness enterprises..

8. Week 8Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

   • Unit 1: Cooperatives and its Values · 3 hours

     Name the ethical values believed by cooperative members.. List and explain the cooperative values, including self-help, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.. Understand the role of cooperative values as a basis for cooperative principles..

9. Week 9Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

   • Unit 2: Cooperative Principles and Operation Guidelines · 3 hours

     State the principles of cooperatives, including voluntary and open membership.. List the operational guidelines of cooperative practice, such as capital formation and cash trading.. Explain the importance of cooperation among cooperatives..

10. Week 10Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

    • Unit 3: Cooperative Books and Records · 3 hours

      Itemize records necessary for good cooperative meetings, such as membership registers and minutes books.. List and explain various financial records used in cooperatives, including cash books and ledgers.. Mention other useful records, such as investment registers and building and equipment registers..

11. Week 11Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

    • Unit 4: Loan Management · 3 hours

      Identify different types of loans offered by cooperatives.. Explain the procedure for issuing loans in cooperatives.. List loan policies in cooperatives, including character, capacity, and collateral.. Enumerate techniques in loan recovery, such as suasion methods and legal action..

12. Week 12Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

    • Unit 5: Cooperative Finance · 3 hours

      List and explain the various sources of capital available to cooperative societies.. Describe three methods of matching patronage and equity obligations in cooperatives, including revolving fund plans and base capital plans.. Understand the importance of member contributions and retained surpluses..

13. Week 13Module 3: Principles and operating techniques essential for successful cooperative activities

    • Unit 6: Cooperative Financial Statement · 3 hours

      Define key financial terms used in cooperative societies, such as gross margins and net savings.. Demonstrate the use of balance sheets and statements of operation.. Outline main financial ratios used to analyze cooperative performance..