Abstract
This research work was undertaken with a view to ascertaining community development in Imo state of Nigeria with a focus non Owerri north local government area as a case study. The work looked critically (in question) towards community development within its area of jurisdiction. In doing this, the researcher based his study on the provision of the 1976 local government reform in Nigeria which made community development one of the explicit functions of the local government councils. In carrying out the research, primary and secondary data were used. Related literature were reviewed (secondary data chapter 2) and questionnaire were equally prepared and administered to local government functionaries (primary data chapter 4). The technique use in analyzing the primary data is the chi-square (x2). The finding of the research was reached using the result of the tested hypothesis. For the analysis, it was found that many factors act as stumbling blocks on the way of community development in Owerri north local government area and the state general.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – iv
Abstract – – – – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – – vi
CHAPTER ONE:
1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 1
1.1 Background of the study – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the problem – – – – – 6
1.3 Objectives of the study – – – – – – 7
1.4 Research question – – – – – – – 8
1.5 Statement of hypothesis – – – – – – 9
1.6 Significance of the study – – – – – – 11
1.7 Scope of the study – – – – – – – 12
1.8 Limitations of the study – – – – – – 12
1.9 Definition of terms – – – – – – – 13
CHAPTER TWO:
2.0 Literature review – – – – — – – 15
2.1 Introduction- – – – – – – – – 15
2.2 Concept and definition of community development- 16
2.3 Historical background of community
development as obtained in Nigeria – – – – 19
2.4 Role of local government council in community
Development – – – – – – – – 24
2.5 Major constraints in Owerri north – – – – 26
2.6 Achievements of Owerri north – – – – – 29
2.7 Implementation strategies to rural development – 31
References – – – — – – – – — 33
CHAPTER THREE:
3.0 Research design and methodology – – – – 34
3.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 34
3.2 Research design – – – – – – – 35
3.3 Methods of data collection – – – – – 35
3.4 Population and sample size – – – – 36
3.5 Sample techniques – – – – – – – 36
3.6 Validity and reliability of measuring instrument – 38
3.7 Method of data analysis – – – – – – 38
CHAPTER FOUR:
4.0 Presentation and analysis of data – – – – 40
4.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 40
4.2 Presentation of data – – – – – – – 41
4.3 Analysis of data – – – – – – – 54
4.4 Test of hypothesis – – – – – – – 55
4.5 Interpretation of data- – – – – – – 59
CHAPTER FIVE:
5.0 Summary, conclusion and recommendations- – – 61
5.1 Introduction – – – – – – – – 61
5.2 Summary of finding – – – – – – – 62
5.3 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 63
5.4 Recommendations – – – – – – – 65
Reference – – – – – – – – 67
Appendix – – – – – – – – – 70
Questionnaire – – — – – – – – 71
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Local governments have and will continue to be one of the prime moves of development in different parts of the world and their importance and impact on daily activities of citizens can not be over emphasized.
The terms local government refers to a political authority set up by a nation or state as a subordinate authority for the purpose of dispensing or decentralizing polities power. In the English sense, it means local self government.
Local government is a political sub-division of a national government or in federal system, a sub-division of regional government in fact, local government administration is so intentioned with community development that any discussion on one out of necessity involves the other. This is because local government in essence, was created solely to bring development to the community at the grass root.
Community development is not a new ideology. It is defined as a process by which the efforts of the people themselves are linked with those of governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities to integrate them into life of the action and to enable them to contribute fully to the national progress. Also the role of local government in the promotion of development at the local level is dearly recognized as one of the underlying basis of the 1976 local government reforms which emphasized that none of the principal objectives of local government is to mobilize human and material resources through the involvement of members of the public in the promotion of local government.
Many communities had built school, constructed roads and bridges and organized higher education, scholarship schemes for their children etc. Community development as we recognize today is based on and has grown out of the past. What is new is that these principles are now becoming more widely recognize than ever before. The principles of community development are not new, but it is the emphasis which makes almost a revolutionary. The concept of community development is based on the faith. In the ability of people to learn how to help themselves attain an improved standard of living building better communities taking one step at a time.
In drawing up the blue print for rural development, government of Imo state aims primary at sensitizing and mobilizing the people are the grass root level and deliberately and actively involving them in effective community development, encouraging, integrated and multi-dimension approach to community development for the government to achieve the grass roots development, it must get closer to the people.
ORGANIZATION OF OWERRI NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
