COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATIONS AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT:
THE CASE STUDY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA
BY
TPL. ADEWALE, Y.Y and TPL. OLA, A.B.
MAY, 2016
ABSTRACT
Against the background of observed inadequacy in infrastructural facilities in the rural areas of Nigeria and increasing inability of the government to effectively respond to these challenges, the rural dwellers through their community development associations have taken up the challenge with commendable determination and resilience. This study was undertaken to examine the potentials and contributions of these of community development associations to the provision of infrastructural facilities in Nigerian rural centres focusing on Ibadan rural region.
A combination of theory of citizen participation, locality development theory and the concept of participatory rural appraisal guided the study. Cross-sectional survey research design and a multistage sampling technique were adopted. A total of 203 community development associations were identified in four rural Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ibadan out of which 20 most active community development associations were purposely selected. A structured questionnaire containing information on the administrative structure of the associations and infrastructural facilities provided by the associations was used in obtaining information from the associations’ leaders. Simple random sampling technique was used in sampling 1021 members of the associations. A structured questionnaire containing information on socio demographic characteristics (age, sex, income), participation in the associations’ infrastructural development efforts, challenges and prospects of the associations were administered on the respondents. Four key informant interviews were conducted with the heads of the community development departments of the selected Local Government Areas descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis at p≤0.05. Qualitative data were content analysed.
The mean age of the associations was 22 years. Water projects and road rehabilitation were the major infrastructural projects executed by 95% and 89.9 of the associations respectively. The associations sourced for funds from compulsory levies paid by members (100%); financial assistance from members of the communities in diaspora (75%); financial donations by philanthropist (50%); and voluntary donations by community members (20%). Infrastructural facilities provided by the associations enjoyed adequate patronage from community members (85%). Inadequate funds (56.5%); lack of assistance form government (32.4%); Delay in securing space for some facilities (8.2%); Vandalisation of some facilities (2.9%) and non-payment of compulsory levies by members (90%) were the challenges facing the associations. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicates that socio-economic variables exert a positive influence on members’ participation in the associations’ infrastructural projects (r2=0.806).
Community development associations contributed to improved access to infrastructural facilities in the rural region of Ibadan despite the paucity of funds. Effective partnership with community development associations by local and state governments for sustainable rural infrastructural development is recommended.
Keywords: Community development; rural infrastructural; local participation; community development associations.
