Examining the Gap in Knowledge About Digital Cooperative Models in Sub-Saharan Africa with Application to Nigerian Cooperatives

Digital cooperative models, including platform cooperatives, app-based saving groups, and blockchain-enabled member registries, represent an emerging frontier of cooperative innovation globally. However, the literature on digital cooperative models in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Nigerian context, is sparse and has not been systematically reviewed. This study examined the gap in knowledge about digital cooperative models in sub-Saharan Africa and assessed their applicability to the Nigerian cooperative sector. A systematic literature synthesis and contextual applicability analysis methodology was employed. A comprehensive search of eleven databases identified thirty-eight publications on digital cooperative models in sub-Saharan Africa from 2018 to 2024. Publications were analysed for technological model type, country context, performance outcomes, implementation barriers, and scalability evidence. Contextual applicability was assessed through structured stakeholder consultations with twenty-two Nigerian cooperative technology, policy, and management experts. Results showed that mobile money integration is the most documented digital cooperative innovation in sub-Saharan Africa, with positive savings mobilisation outcomes in Kenya, Tanzania, and Ghana. Platform cooperative models are essentially absent from the literature for all sub-Saharan contexts. Blockchain applications are discussed in four publications but without field evidence. Expert consultations confirmed strong Nigerian interest in mobile money integration and modest interest in platform cooperative models. The study identifies five priority digital innovation areas for Nigerian cooperatives and recommends a three-year Nigerian Digital Cooperative Innovation Fund, supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria's financial inclusion mandate.

Keywords: digital cooperatives, platform cooperatives, sub-Saharan Africa, digital innovation, Nigerian cooperatives