Impact of Cooperative Societies Savings Scheme in Rural Finance: Some Evidence from Nigeria

This paper examines the extent to which savings products offered by cooperative societies in some parts of Nigeria meet the financial needs of the rural dwellers. The study used the data from interviews and focus group discussions from randomly selected members ofcooperative societies in six local governments. The data are analzed using percentages, content analysis and quotation. The studyfound that the savings product helps to inculcate a good savings habit among the participants because they find it easier to savenow than when they were introduced to the program. The members also developed self esteem as “part owners” of the program because of the compulsory savings that they participate in, and they do not want theprogram to collapse. Members are also satisfied because they are able to save in the scheme which helps them to reduce their expenses onfrivolous spending such as leisure drinking and acquisition of more wives. The members’inability to withdraw from their savings whenin financial need, except on cessation of membership,was found as the drawback of the program

Microfinance Services and Women’s Empowerment

Empowering women and increasing gender equity is assumed to be crucial in achieving economic growth and improving well-being around the world. Offering women access to microfinance services is one prominent approach to improve the position of women in society and to help them move out of poverty. This chapter provides a short introduction to microfinance services in general and introduces the theoretical explanations how financial and nonfinancial microfinance services may empower women. Furthermore, the chapter summarizes relevant research on the impact of the provision of these services on women’s empowerment. Different insights are presented to illustrate how gendered power between female loan borrowers and their husbands may be influenced by the impact of microfinance services. The chapter concludes with a critical ethical and empirical discussion on the contribution of offering microfinance services to women to empower them and suggest new avenues for future research