Unlocking the Potential of Co-Operatives in Addressing Rural-Urban Migration through Job Creation

This study examines the potential of cooperatives in creating rural employment and managing rural-urban migration in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Nigeria. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 384 respondents (192 cooperative members and 192 non-members) across 24 cooperative societies in 12 communities. The research assessed employment creation mechanisms, analysed the relationship between cooperative membership and migration intentions, and identified factors enhancing cooperative effectiveness. Results show that cooperative membership significantly improves employment stability, with 89.1% of members reporting stable employment compared to 67.2% of non-members (p < 0.001). Cooperative members demonstrated higher income diversification (2.8 vs. 1.9 income sources) and reduced migration intentions by 62% compared to non-members. Cooperatives create employment through three primary mechanisms: direct employment creation (38%), supply chain linkages (41%), and local economic multiplier effects (21%). Multipurpose cooperatives showed superior performance in employment generation compared to agricultural and savings-credit cooperatives. Key factors enhancing cooperative effectiveness include governance quality, market access, financial resources, technical capacity, and external support. The study concludes that well-structured cooperatives serve as effective instruments for sustainable rural development, significantly contributing to employment creation and migration management. Policy recommendations include establishing cooperative development funds, strengthening governance systems, integrating cooperatives into value chains, and promoting inter-sectoral collaboration to maximize cooperative impact on rural economies.