Project Abstract

<p> </p><p>This work dealt with the Assessment of Strategies for Rural Development in Isi-uzo<br>Local Government Area of Enugu State. To carry out the study effectively, the<br>researcher formulated six (6) research questions and one (1) null hypothesis. The<br>population for the study is four hundred (400) made up of both female and male<br>members of Community Based Organizations in Isi-uzo Local Government Area. The<br>major instrument used for the collection of the data for the study was questionnaire.<br>The data collected were analyzed by the use of simple percentage, weighted means and<br>T-test statistical tool. The major findings include That objectives of rural<br>development; reduce inequality and ignorance; to provide basic amenities, full<br>employment. That construction of rural roads and culverts, provision of agricultural<br>activities, rural electrification, health centres and so are the types of rural development<br>projects carried out in Isi-uzo Local Government Area. That the initiators of rural<br>development projects in Isi-uzo Local Government Area include the community, the<br>Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, among others. That Government<br>contributes toward the promotion of rural development through provision of amenities<br>like electricity, roads and culverts, health facilities, water and so on. That the strategies<br>adopted by the rural dwellers to implement their projects include community efforts or<br>non-directive strategy, the use of direct strategy or Government, among others. That<br>the problems facing rural development in Isi-uzo Local Government include lack of<br>fund, illiteracy, power tussle/politics and so on. In view of the findings,<br>recommendations were made; finally suggestions for further research were</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <br><p></p>

Project Overview

<p> INTRODUCTION.<br>1:1 Background of the Study<br>Rural development in Nigeria and indeed in Enugu State dates back to the origin of<br>man. Man in a bid to live above nature, saw the need to develop his environment. He<br>started by taking care of the fundamental needs such as food, clothing, shelter and so on.<br>as time went on, when civilization started crippling in, men lived together decided to<br>improve on roads, clear pathways, markets and village squares. Even the government’s<br>intervention in providing the needs of man does not prevent man from contributing his<br>quota in development. This trend continued until this modern Nigeria.<br>This means that the idea of rural development may have started long before the<br>introduction of local government system or the coming of the Europeans to Nigeria.<br>Onyekwere (1987:7) citing Okunlola (1979:1) stated that self-help mechanism need for<br>rural development had existed in traditional societies before the concept of rural<br>development was introduced by the Western nation. Equally, the National Youth Service<br>Corps Orientation Lecture Series (1979:1) stated that long before the introduction of the<br>science of development planning and studies, many rural communities in Nigeria had<br>learned to provide themselves with functional and physical facilities by co-operation or<br>communal efforts. Also, Nwakama (1986:7) observed that for them to live in big homes<br>with large rooms and windows to admit fresh air they have to seek the aid of other people<br>or their neigbours. From the above, there is evidence that our fore fathers have learned to<br>come together to build roads instead of footpaths, village squares, markets and schools<br>through communal efforts.<br>So, when the indirect rule was introduced in the 1900’s in the country, the District<br>Officers through their warrant Chiefs did not find it difficult in mobilizing the rural<br>people for self-help projects. With the self-help mechanism already existing in the people<br>, warrant Chiefs were able to organize the people to provide compulsory communal<br>labour needed for public works. As a result, village groups provided compulsory labour<br>which was for the construction of roads, bridges, culverts and other projects.<br>In 1930’s, direct taxation was introduced, in which Road and River ordinance<br>of1920’s was replaced. Onwumelu (1981:4) stated that many rural communities<br>considered communal labour unnecessary and refused to provide further free labour for<br>public works. The rural dwellers therefore expected the governments to provide them<br>xi<br>with social amenities since they paid their tax to the government . through this way, the<br>colonial government killed the spirit of rural communities in rural development.<br>The government in order to reactive the spirit of self-help mechanism in people<br>introduced the local government law of 1955. The law empowered local government to<br>take full responsibilities for rural development within their area of authorities;and equally<br>promised to give matching grants and technical assistance to communities who embarked<br>on self-help project. As a result,the government of the then Eastern Region , backed its<br>promise with the Akagu experience in Udi,which was shut at into a film called “Day<br>Break” at Udi. The film was used as a public enlightment strategy and was shown in<br>every hook and cranny of then Eastern region . The film helped in stimulating the<br>people to take part in rural development project.<br>xii<br>xiii<br>xiv<br>xv<br>xvi<br>xvii<br>1.2 Statement of the Problem<br>Despite all these laudable programmes and polices initiated by government like<br>Directorate of Food Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DIFRRI). Better Life for Rural<br>Women coupled with the effort of Community Based Organizations in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government to improve their standard of living, the rural dwellers are still living in<br>abject poverty because the development strategies adopted was unable to address/meet<br>the needs of the people. Also, the development strategies were inadequate because the<br>local people were not involved in the project design, implementation and execution.<br>Commenting on the assertion, Ngwu (1999.24) stated that the approaches/strategies<br>have failed to address the peoples concern s, goals, and aspirations.<br>Although we have some strategies adopted in the rural communities in Isi-uzo<br>Local Government to carry out development projects, their efforts have not produced a<br>true and sustainable development because there are cases of abandoned projects in the<br>rural communities of Isi-uzo Local Government Area. Therefore, the problem of this<br>study is to examine the strategies adopted by government and various Community Based<br>Organizations in the rural development programmes in Isi-uzo Local Government Area<br>that have not been yielding desired results.<br>1.3 Purpose of the Study<br>The main purpose of this study is to assess the strategies for rural development in<br>Isi-uzo Local Government Area in Enugu state. The specific purposes of the study are:<br>1 To identify the characteristics of the respondents.<br>2 To ascertain the objectives of rural development in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area.<br>3 To identify the types of rural development projects carried out in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area.<br>4 To find out those that participate in rural development projects in Isi-uzo<br>Local Government Area.<br>5 To access the efforts of the government in promoting rural development in Isi-uzo<br>Local Government.<br>6 To determine the strategies used for the implementation of rural development<br>projects in Isi-uzo Local Government Area.<br>7 To examine the problem which militate against rural development in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area.<br>1.4 Significance of the Study<br>There is a growing emphasis on the part which Community Based Organizations<br>can play to ensure a true and sustainable development in Enugu state and Nigeria in<br>xviii<br>general. Although some scholars have suggested the shift of focus from the government<br>top down approaches/methods in dealing with development issues to bottom up<br>strategies of Community Based Organizations as an effective means of rural<br>development in the country.<br>So, it is hoped that findings of the study encourage the efforts of rural dwellers<br>who are member of Community Based Organizations, as well as indicates those strategies<br>that are effective as a means of achieving good results in rural development.<br>More so, findings of the study equally serve as a guide to government and other<br>agencies involved in development activities with respect to strategies that can be<br>adopted when assisting communities in their development.<br>The findings of the study also provide development activists with information on<br>the better strategies being adopted by grassroots organizations involved in rural<br>development activities in various communities.<br>Finally, the study provides the much needed material for future research in<br>strategies for rural development.<br>1.5 Scope of the Study<br>The scope of the study covers the objectives and characteristics of rural<br>development, the types of rural development projects, those that participate in rural<br>development, the efforts of government in promoting rural projects, assessment of the<br>strategies used for implementation of rural development projects and the problems which<br>militate against rural development projects.<br>1.6 Research Questions.<br>The following questions have been asked to guide the study;<br>1 What are the characteristics of the respondents?<br>2 What are the objectives of the rural development in Isi-uzo Local Government<br>Area?<br>3 What are the types of rural development projects carried out in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area?<br>4 Who are participants in the rural development projects in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area?<br>xix<br>5 What are the contributions of the government towards the promotion of rural<br>development in Isi-uzo Local Government Area?<br>6 What are the strategies used for the implementation of rural development projects<br>in Isi-uzo Local Government Area?<br>7 What are the problems confronting rural development in Isi-uzo Local<br>Government Area?<br>Hypothesis.<br>HO1 There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the male and female<br>members of the Community Based Organizations on the problems confronting<br>rural development in Isi-uzo Local Government Area. <br></p>