AN INFLUENTIAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) ON COOPERATIVE SERVICES IN NIGERIA (Published)
Cooperative societies are designed as individual self-help and empowerment vehicles for micro-credit delivery. Testing the impact of IT on Cooperative operational activities and service delivery in Nigeria is expected to give insight into the state of cashlessness of the African economy and provide measuring guide to organization relating to electronic commerce. This paper attempts to investigate the impact of information technology on cooperative services as a basis for attainment of MDG objective relating to E-commerce. Data collected from the stakeholders in cooperative organizations in Nigeria was analyzed using frequency table, percentage and non-parametric statistical test, ANOVA was used to test the formulated hypothesis using STATA 10 data analysis package/software. The result of the finding shows that information technology is positively significant to cooperative service in Nigeria. Investment in IT by Cooperative organisations will improve their performance through high level of patronage by members. The paper recommends that the cooperative management should provide adequate IT facilities to the cooperative staff and proper training should be given to the employee in other to meet the quality of service needed by the members. Also there should be free flow of information between the cooperative organizations and their members. The cashless policy should also be extended to Cooperative organizations that account for seventy percent of the low income group to facilitate the MDG objective relating to e-commerce
Keywords: E-commerce; Cooperative Service; Information Technology; MDG relating to e-commerce