Social Responsibility Assessment of Cooperative Organizations in Tertiary Educational Institutions in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study is focused on assessing the social responsibility impact of cooperative organizations resident in tertiary institutions in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The population of the study was one thousand four hundred and twelve (1,412) registered members of cooperative organizations resident in tertiary institutions in Kaduna State. Using Taro Yamane’s formula with allowable error e = 0.05, a sample size of three hundred and twelve (312) was used. This sample was distributed equally (at fifty two each) among the six cooperative organizations that were selected one from each of six tertiary institutions; the six tertiary institutions were judgmentally selected two from each senatorial zone in the State. A 5-point Likert-scale measure was used to collect data for analysis. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean Likert-scale) and inferential statistics (Spearman’s rho test). The results of the study reveal as follows: The only significant social responsibility activity carried out by cooperative organizations resident in tertiary institutions in the State is to help their host communities in providing physical infrastructural facilities (x = 3.02). Thus, the cooperative organizations have not really been alive to their social responsibilities to their host communities (P-value = 2.781; r-cal = 1.517). However, the little they have been able to do has had a positive and significant (P-value = 0.752; r-cal = 3.439) impact on the host communities. There are many challenges impeding the provision of social responsibility activities by these cooperative organizations; the major challenges include lack of fund, poor relationship with host communities, and hostile attitude of the host communities. The study therefore recommends that cooperative organizations in tertiary institutions in Kaduna State should strive to imbibe the culture of concern for host community as a cardinal cooperative principle. To realize this, they should intensify drive for membership as a means of increasing their funding capacity; seek beneficial partnerships with local and international donor agencies to enhance their capacity to deliver on social responsibility activities.