INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES IN FINANCE, MANAGEMENT, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES

Abstract

Background: Effective funding remains a significant challenge for cooperative societies in Nigeria, despite their recognized role in financial inclusion and grassroots economic development. This study investigates the influence of stakeholder collaboration, trust and communication, and institutional and technological support on the effective funding and financial sustainability of cooperative societies. Objective: The primary objective is to examine how stakeholder engagement and supportive mechanisms affect funding accessibility and sustainability in Nigerian cooperatives, while addressing gaps in integrated empirical research. Methodology: The study adopts a quantitative research design using a structured survey instrument distributed across a stratified sample of cooperative societies in Nigeria. Data were analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and supported by robust statistical diagnostics. Key variables include Effective Funding (EF), Stakeholder Collaboration Index (SCI), Institutional Support (IS), Trust and Communication (TC), Stakeholder Commitment (SC), Years of Operation (YO), and Total Assets (TA). Construct validity was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha, Composite Reliability, and Average Variance Extracted (AVE). Multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity were evaluated using the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) and BreuschPagan test, respectively. Findings: The results indicate that stakeholder collaboration, trust and communication, and institutional-technological support significantly influence effective funding. Trust-based communication channels and digital innovations emerged as strong predictors of funding accessibility and sustainability. Conclusion: Findings reinforce the need for integrated stakeholder frameworks, transparent communication, and digital support systems to enhance cooperative funding outcomes in Nigeria.