Ezeokafor Uche R¹, Jacobs Chineze J.¹, Ekwere Gabriel E.^2,

This study set out to determine the influence of cooperative society on women empowerment in Nigeria with particular interest in Awka North LGA, Anambra State. Specific objectives were to determine the influence of social activities of cooperative society on women empowerment; and ascertain the influence of economic activities of cooperative society on women empowerment. Two hypotheses were tested from the responses gathered from the field. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to determine the sample size of 91 respondents from the population of 118, representing a 77% response rate. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, means, percentages, and tables were used to present the data obtained to achieve the study objectives. While the classical linear regression technique using the ordinary least squares (OLS) approach was used to test the hypotheses. Findings revealed that the social activities of women cooperatives in Awka North LGA have significant influence on women empowerment index (F ratio = 4.887; Significant at 0.001). Which shows that social activities of women cooperatives are important determinants of women empowerment. It was also revealed that the economic activities of women cooperatives in Awka North LGA have significant influence on women empowerment index (F ratio = 9.917; Significant@ 0.001). Which implied that efforts at encouraging and promoting economic activities/farming of members of women cooperatives are critical determinants of women empowerment. Among other recommendations, concerted efforts should be made by the government, civil society groups, NGOs, and cooperative societies in raising awareness among rural women on the benefits of joining cooperative societies and a channel for promoting their economic wellbeing and empowerment. Cooperative societies should enhance their economic and social functions to enable women benefit maximally and thereby elevating their status, social profile, and dignity in their communities. This they could do by finding out from the members what they believe will further improve their socio-economic wellbeing and integrating into their core functional activities.

agricultural development, women empowerment, group farming, capacity building, poverty reduction, food security, cooperative.