Investigation of the Impact of Cooperative Education on Member Loyalty in Thrift Cooperatives in Ogun State

Cooperative education, which encompasses the principles, values, and operational knowledge of cooperative enterprise, is theoretically linked to stronger member commitment and loyalty. This study investigated the relationship between cooperative education and member loyalty in thrift cooperative societies in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. A descriptive correlational design was adopted, with 150 members from twelve registered thrift cooperatives in Abeokuta and Sagamu responding to structured questionnaires. The questionnaire measured cooperative education exposure (attendance at induction sessions, committee meetings, and annual general meetings) and member loyalty (regular savings contributions, referral behaviour, and stated intention to remain in the cooperative). Pearson correlation and simple linear regression were used in analysis. Results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between cooperative education exposure and member loyalty (r = 0.58; p < 0.01). Members who had attended at least three cooperative education sessions per year were 2.4 times more likely to be classified as loyal compared to those who attended fewer than one session. Key loyalty drivers identified included trust in management, perceived financial returns, and understanding of cooperative principles. The study concludes that investing in cooperative education strengthens member loyalty in thrift cooperatives and recommends that the Ogun State Cooperative Federation establish a mandatory annual cooperative education calendar for all affiliated societies, with minimum attendance requirements linked to member voting rights. Keywords: cooperative education, member loyalty, thrift cooperatives, Ogun State, South West Nigeria