Towards a Healthy Urban Lifestyle: Examining Residents’ Motivators to Outdoor Recreation in Nassarawa-Kano

Abstract

Outdoor recreation is currently one of the most influential domains where participation directly affects individual health, families, and communities. This expectation can motivate individuals in many ways to engage in outdoor recreation activities. This paper investigates residents’ motivators for outdoor recreation in Nassarawa, Kano, as stimuli for promoting a healthy urban life. The study employed a descriptive survey design to collect information from residents using a structured questionnaire (n=400). Cluster and systematic random sampling techniques were utilized to administer the questionnaires to target respondents. A total of 386 completed questionnaires were retrieved and used for the analysis, resulting in a response rate of 96.5%. Data collected were analyzed using frequencies, mean scores, ranking, and cross-tabulation. The findings revealed that maintaining good health condition (M=4.15), keeping physically fit (M=4.09), and having fun (M=3.92) were the most agreed-upon motivators for participation in outdoor recreation in the study area, ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively. The study asserts that these motivators influence residents’ participation in outdoor recreation in Nassarawa, Kano metropolis across different age groups and have significantly impacted the physical, mental, and social health of the residents. The study concludes by recommending that greater participation would contribute to more vibrant and healthy communities. Therefore, efforts should be made to enlighten people further about the importance of outdoor recreation participation as a promoter of social cohesion.