Promoting Gender Equality through Women Co-operatives in Enugu State, Nigeria

Background: Gender equality is a prominent global goal, with increasing focus on empowering women across economic, social and political spheres among others. But in Enugu State, Nigeria, cultural barriers limit women’s access to decision-making and resources, resulting in disparities in income, education, and employment. Women's co-operatives serve as platforms for economic empowerment through skills development, entrepreneurship, and financial access, enhancing leadership and decision-making. These co-operatives help reduce gender gaps in agriculture, trade, and small businesses among others. However, persistent inequalities in employment and education hinder their full potential, which this study aims to explore further. Objective: This study focused on promoting gender equality through women co-operatives in Enugu State, Nigeria. Method: This study adopted descriptive survey research design and was carried out in Enugu State, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the south, and Anambra State to the west. 266 members from 12 selected registered women co-operatives were sampled through a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and validated through content and face validity. Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the instrument and the corresponding reliability coefficient of 0.78 showed that the instrument was reliable. Data were analyzed using frequency tables, simple percentages and mean with a 5-point Likert scale. The hypotheses formulated were tested using Chi-Square Statistics at 0.05 level of significance, through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Results: Women co-operatives had significant role in providing employment opportunities for women and significant role in providing educational opportunities for women in Enugu State. Conclusion: The study concluded that women co-operatives significantly enhance employment and educational opportunities, promoting gender equality in Enugu State, Nigeria Unique Contribution: The study contributes to knowledge by demonstrating how women co-operatives effectively promote gender equality. Key Recommendation: Expand support for women co-operatives by increasing funding and training programs to enhance their operational capacity and enhance educational programs by collaborating with local institutions to provide skill development and training workshops.