The Legitimacy of Shuura in Succession Planning and Growth of Islamic Multipurpose Cooperatives in Nigeria

Abstract

This study critically analysed the legitimacy of the Shuura in succession planning and the growth of Islamic multipurpose cooperatives in Nigeria. The study focused on the Islamic cooperative context in Nigeria, analysing Zero Interest Cooperative in Lagos State; Al Hayat Cooperative in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State; and the Crescent Cooperative in Ilorin, Kwara State; all three cooperatives serve as conceptual and documentary illustrations rather than primary empirical case studies. In contrast, it offers comparative findings from other cooperative contexts in Nigeria. It aimed to do two things: first, to examine Shuura's legitimacy as a mechanism for leadership succession planning; second, to examine how succession planning through Shuura helped achieve cooperative growth and sustainability. The research design used here was qualitative critical documentary research, with purposively selected scholarly and institutional sources and thematic analysis. The results showed that Shuura's consultation, justice, collective responsibility, and accountability gave it strong normative legitimacy. However, to achieve institutional legitimacy, members needed substantive participation, procedural fairness, transparency, and meaningful participation in succession decisions. The analysis also revealed that the indirect pathway from succession planning to Organisational growth ran through four elements: leadership continuity, member trust, accountability and participation, and institutional stability. The study found that Shuura should be formalised as a governance mechanism to avoid becoming symbolic consultation. It also offered a practical blueprint for regulators and cooperatives to improve succession governance and Organizational sustainability in Islamic cooperatives.