Addressing Gender Disparities in Entrepreneurship through Co-operative Financing in Nigeria

The study centred on addressing gender disparities in entrepreneurship through co-operative financing in Nigeria. Two core objectives guided the research: to determine the effect of loan access on the participation rate of women in entrepreneurship and evaluate the effect of savings on the income gap of women in entrepreneurship in Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving 373 registered co-operatives, sampled through multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a well-validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.85 through Cronbach’s Alpha. SPSS 27 facilitated descriptive analysis using frequency, percentage and mean, while inferential statistics of simple linear regression analysis determined the significance of the variables. Results showed that loan access had significant positive effect on the participation rate of women in entrepreneurship [r² = 0.601, f = 0.732, p < 0.05] and that savings had significant positive effect on the income gap of women in entrepreneurship in Nigeria [r² = 0.531, f = 0.013, p < 0.05]. It concluded that co-operative financing crucially boosts women’s entrepreneurship and reduces income disparities in Nigeria by improving loan access and promoting regular savings, thereby fostering sustainable businesses, inclusive economic growth, and long-term financial independence for female entrepreneurs. The study recommended streamlining co-operative loan access through flexible collateral rules and member capacity-building initiatives to empower women entrepreneurs and fostering a robust savings habit by offering financial education programs and accessible digital. The study contributed to knowledge by advancing knowledge on gender-focused economic development on how co-operative financing empowers women, reduces income gaps, and promotes inclusive entrepreneurship.