Assessment of the Contribution of Artisan Cooperatives to Urban Poverty Reduction in Kano State

Artisan cooperatives, organised around craft-based trades such as tailoring, leather work, and metalwork, represent an important but underresearched dimension of urban cooperative economies in northern Nigeria. This study assessed the contribution of artisan cooperative societies to urban poverty reduction among members in Kano metropolis, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 160 artisan cooperative members drawn from tailoring, shoemaking, and metalwork cooperatives in Kano Municipal and Nassarawa Local Government Areas. Structured questionnaires measured income levels, access to raw materials, skill development opportunities, and poverty indicators using the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index dimensions. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were employed. Results showed that membership in artisan cooperatives was associated with a 34.6 percent average increase in monthly income over a 24-month period. Access to bulk raw material purchases through collective procurement reduced input costs by an estimated 18 percent for members. Eighty-two percent of respondents credited cooperative membership with enabling them to expand their business operations. However, access to formal technology and marketing support remained limited, constraining competitiveness. Poverty scores were significantly lower for cooperative members compared to self-reported pre-membership baselines (p < 0.01). The study concludes that artisan cooperatives are effective but under-resourced poverty reduction institutions in Kano and recommends integration with state vocational training programmes and formal market linkages. Keywords: artisan cooperatives, urban poverty, Kano State, craft sector, North West Nigeria