CENTRALITY OF MARKET ASSOCIATIONS IN THE ECONOMY OF WUKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE, 1970 - 2020

Abstract

Market Associations play a vital role in the economic landscape of many developing countries, and Nigeria exception. This paper examines the centrality of market associations in the economy of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State, 1970 - 2020. It conceptualizes market associations. The evolution, types, and features of market associations in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State also came into focus. It analyzes the role of market associations in the economy of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. It also examines the challenges of market associations in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. The study relied on both primary sources like oral interviews and archival materials and secondary sources like books, theses, articles, newspapers, journals, etc. The study observes that the centrality of market associations to the development of developing economies is now beyond dispute as they are vital developmental tools and have features that make them instruments for development. The study demonstrates that market associations have always been an important component of Wukari economy. The study also found that markets are made up of many parts, which work together as a system and a major part of the market system is the ‘market associations’ popularly called market unions, whose functionality have provided employment to many people in Nigeria and bridge the disparities in productive capacity between communities. The study concludes among other things that the solution to the challenges confronting market associations in the area lies in the provision of incentives, machinery, and positive government policies to confront these challenges faced by market associations in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State.