Sheriff Oluwatosin Obasanya, Kayode Eniafe Diya, Akokhia Hud Umar, Olusegun John Oyeniran

Keywords: Thrift and credit cooperatives, youth participation, poverty, leadership

Abstract

Cooperatives face existential threats due to declining youth membership in
Nigeria and in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State. Yet,
empirical studies exploring this existential issue in Nigeria is scarce.
Against this backdrop, this study assesses the barriers militating against
participation of young farmers and artisans in cooperatives in Odo-Otin
Local Government Area of Osun State. A quantitative cross-sectional
descriptive survey design was employed and data were collected from 216 respondents through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used in analysing the data. The findings revealed that economic barriers dominate, with 62.6% of youth citing limited credit access from cooperatives as a key obstacle. Chi-square analysis reveals that economic barrier (χ² = 18.48, p < 0.001), psychological barriers (χ² = 4.11, p = 0.043), and physical barriers (χ² = 4.41, p < 0.05) significantly hindered youth participation in cooperatives. Mann-Whitney U
tests revealed significant differences in barriers faced: youth faced heightened economic challenges, including limited credit access (reported by 62.6% of youth vs. 9.8% of older members; U = 2,801, p < 0.001) and unaffordable membership fees (36% of youth vs. 9.8% of older members; U = 3,256, p = 0.001). While descriptive data highlighted structural concerns like older members’ dominance in leadership roles, inferential tests
confirmed that economic constraints, psychological insecurities, and physical accessibility gaps were the statistically significant factors compounding exclusion. To address these barriers, the study recommends lower membership fees, improved access to low-interest credit, youth-friendly leadership inclusion, and more accessible meeting venues.

Author Biography

Sheriff Oluwatosin Obasanya

Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka

Kayode Eniafe Diya 

Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Lagos State Cooperative College, Agege, Lagos

Akokhia Hud Umar 

Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State

Olusegun John Oyeniran

Department of Cooperative and Rural Development, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye

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