The Relationship between Savings Mobilization Techniques and Livelihood Activities of Rural Women in Borno State, Nigeria

The study examined Rural Women Savings and their effect on livelihood in Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, estimate the determinants of savings among respondents in the study area, determine the relationship between livelihood activities and types of savings mobilization techniques, Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data for the study were obtained through the use of structured questionnaires from 600 respondents selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. The respondents were selected from 2,090 women with livelihood activities, spread over 23 communities in 6 local government areas of the state. A proportionate random sampling was employed at various stages of selection. Descriptive statistical techniques such as the frequency distribution, percentages and mean were used to examine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area. Inferential statistical techniques namely; saving model and Multinomial Logit Model were used to estimate the determinants of savings among respondents in the study area, determine the relationship between livelihood activities and types of savings mobilization techniques. The findings of the study revealed that Age, income and education were the factors that determined saving in the study area. It was further revealed that farmers and artisans were more likely to engage in savings at home; wage earners were more likely to be saving in Banks while agro-processors were more likely to make savings in ROSCAs. It is recommended that Rural women should be properly mobilized and organised to join cooperative societies and self help groups and register in other formal financial institutions, so that the Government, NGOs and Micro-finance institutions can easily reach out to them as this will improve their level of personal development. The savings mobilization organizations should adopt demand oriented approaches in designing savings programs by considering the socio-economic characteristics of rural women.