Women's Cooperatives and the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Enugu State, Nigeria.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58547/bmds2q75Keywords:
Women Empowerment, Poverty Reduction, Entrepreneurship, Gender Equality, Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract
This study examined the contribution of women’s co-operatives to the economic empowerment of rural women in Enugu State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 256 members of twelve (12) registered primary co-operative societies selected through simple random sampling. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection, yielding a reliability coefficient of r = .78. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and one-sample t-test with SPSS version 23. Findings revealed that women’s co-operatives significantly enhanced employment opportunities [t(5) = 12.995, p = .004], improved income levels [t(5) = 7.928, p = .004] and expanded credit access for female entrepreneurs [t(5) = 35.298, p = .000]. These results highlight the pivotal role of women’s co-operatives in promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and rural empowerment. The study underscores the need for stronger institutional support, increased funding, and the integration of microfinance services to expand co-operative-led value chains and foster sustainable rural development. By addressing gaps in empirical evidence, this study contributes localized insight into how women’s co-operatives serve as instruments of empowerment and poverty reduction in Enugu State.
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