Knowledge, Strength and Weakness of Cooperative Thrift as Alternative Funding Strategy for the Improvement of Undergraduate Students’ Welfare in Universities in Bayelsa State

Abstract

The study examined the knowledge, strength and weakness of cooperative thrift as an Alternative Funding Strategy for the improvement of undergraduate students’ welfare in universities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population comprised of up of 32,652 students and staff from four public Universities in Bayelsa State during the 2020/2021 academic session. A sample size of 1,136 was selected through purposive an proportionate random sampling technique. An 18 item questionnaire instrument was utilized for data collection. The instrument was self-designed and tagged “knowledge, strength and weakness of cooperative thrift and alternative funding strategy for the improvement of undergraduate students’ welfare questionnaire (KSWCTAFSIUSW). Data collected were analyzed using simple percentages, mean, standard deviation. The results obtained indicated that 65% showed a positive knowledge on cooperative thrift as an alternative funding strategy for the improvement of undergraduates’ students’ welfare in Universities in Bayelsa State. Results also indicated the existence of positive stakeholders’ mean rating on the strengths of cooperative thrift as an alternative funding strategy for the improvement of undergraduates’ students’ welfare in Universities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and a positive existence of stakeholders’ mean rating on the weakness of cooperative thrift as an alternative funding strategy for the improvement of undergraduates’ students’ welfare in Universities Bayelsa State. The study concluded that the establishment of students’ cooperative thrift as an alternative funding strategy will lead to the improvement of undergraduate students’ welfare in Universities Bayelsa State. Hence, the study proposed the establishment of students’ cooperative thrift in Universities Bayelsa State.