An Assessment of Nigeria’s Rural Development Policy for Sustainable Environmental Development in Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to ascertain the effectiveness of Nigeria’s rural development policy for sustainable environmental development. To aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following specific objectives;
- To ascertain the effect of rural development policy on the economic development of the rural communities in Nigeria
- To ascertain the role of government in ensuring sustainable environmental development
- To assess the impact of rural developmental policies on the well-being of rural inhabitants
- To examine the relationship between rural development policies and environmental sustainability in Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
he most serious problems confronting cities, towns and their inhabitants as identified in Agenda 21(1996) include the following: Inadequate financial resources, lack of employment opportunities, spreading homelessness and expansion of squatter settlements, increased poverty and a widening gap between the rich and poor, growing insecurity and rising crime rates, inadequate and deteriorating building stock, services and infrastructure. Other problems include lack of health and educational facilities, improper land use, insecure land tenure, rising traffic congestion, increasing pollution, lack of green spaces, inadequate water supply and sanitation, uncoordinated urban development and an increasing vulnerability to disaster. All these have seriously challenged the capacity of government at all levels to realize socio- economic development and environmental protection, which are all components of sustainable development.
Nigeria as a nation has been experiencing an accelerated shift of her populations from rural to urban areas. This rapid rate of urbanization has engendered several challenges and problems similar to situations in other parts of the world. The problems identified in Agenda 21are prevalent in Nigeria. Today’s Nigerian city, according to Mabogunje (2002) is typified by substandard and inadequate housing, slums, and lack of infrastructure, transportation problems, low productivity, poverty, crime and juvenile delinquency. Urbanization, according to him is the root cause of the high rates of environmental degradation, pollution and social delinquency. Nigeria ranks 151st on the Human Development Index of 177countries worldwide (HDR, 2004).
In order to address the problem of poverty and promote sustainable development, the United Nations Millennium Declaration was adopted in September 2000, committing countries both rich and poor to do all they can to eradicate poverty, promote human dignity and equality and achieve peace, democracy and environmental stability. The goals include those dedicated to eradicating poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. Nigeria is a signatory to the Millennium Declaration and has a responsibility to implement the goals.
Various scholars have studied the challenges of sustainability and urban development in Nigeria. Some of them include Falade (1999) whose study focused on the challenges of a sustainable Nigeria, Abumere (2002) whose research centered on urban governance and the challenges of urban poverty, Odeyemi (2002) who did a study on gender and urbanization and Olanrewaju (2003) who focused on sustainability and urban poverty. rural development policy However, since urban development occurs in a continuum, this paper focuses on the effects of a global development initiative, the Millennium Development Goals, on urban development and sustainability in Nigeria. The study examines the concept of sustainable development, the challenges of urban development and sustainability in Nigeria, and analyzes the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, in order to ascertain the level of achievement of the goals and targets especially those dedicated to poverty eradication and sustainable development, with emphasis on Nigeria. rural development policy.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to examine rural development policy for sustainable environmental development in Nigeria.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on the study an assessment of Nigeria rural development policy for sustainable environmental development in Nigeria. 200 members of Oshogbo LGA was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to assess Nigeria rural development policy for sustainable environmental development in Nigeria
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges rural-urban development policies in Nigeria
Summary
The study evaluates Nigerian approach towards sustainable rural development in relation to the Millennium Development Goals with the formulation of a Rural Development Policy for Sustainable Growth. Although, the study found the government has made giant strides in the development of the rural areas in the areas of poverty reduction, education and health. However, meeting the target date for the MGDs is a mirage and the study pinpoints intervention policies for the government in order to consolidate its efforts in developing the rural communities through the sustainable rural development approach.
Conclusion
The development of rural Nigeria as a matter of deliberate policy for the entire societal development remains a central problem to policy makers. A review of past policies and approaches to rural development in Nigeria show that there were bedeviled with a number of problems. At the centre of these problems is the human factors that have been washed with, the need to get rich at all cost. People for whom development programmes and projects are planned for and particularly the none involvement of women in development process. An alternative approach to Nigeria’s rural development must take into consideration all the factors identified above and the stakeholders. In other words, it must be participatory. There is also the lack of involvement on the part of the by way of carrying the people along at every stage of will do this magic. It is also necessary to raise the consciousness of the rural population as a way of social engineering, so that they come to realize the follies and contradictions in the society. Through this “double-barred approach”, the Nigerian rural landscape and the entire society could be transformed
Recommendations
The adoption of the recommended measures, which are considered imperative in overcoming the impediments, are expected to lead significantly to enhancement in the rural development process in Nigeria. An alternative approach to Nigeria’s rural development must take into consideration all the factors identified above and the stakeholders. In other words, it must be participatory. There is also the lack of involvement on the part of the by way of carrying the people along at every stage of will do this magic. It is also necessary to raise the consciousness of the rural population as a way of social engineering, so that they come to realize the follies and contradictions in the society. Through this “double-barred approach”, the Nigerian rural landscape and the entire society could be transformed.
Reference
- Abah, N.C. (2000). Development Administration: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach. Enugu: John Jacob’s Classic Publishers Ltd.
- Abdu, H. (2005) Impact of National Poverty Eradication Programmes (NAPEP) on Income Changes in Rural Areas” Unpublished seminar paper, Abuja
- Abraham, H. & Balogun, I. O. (2012). Contribution of Microfinance to GDP in Nigeria: Is There Any? International Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 17. 167-176.
- Acha, C/ A. (2012) Microfinance Banking in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects. International Journal of Finance and Accounting 2012, 1 (5): 106-111DOI: 10.5923/j.ijfa.20120105.04.
- Akindiya, B. (2013) Effect of National Poverty Eradication Programs in Nigeria. Retrieved from http://akindiya-babatunde.blogspot.de/2013/01/effect-of-national-povertyeradication.html
- Amiolemen, S. O. & Adegbite, A. (2012). Sustainable Development Policy and Corporate Social Responsibility in Business Organisations in Nigeria. Social Science Research Network. Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1991771
- Anyanwu, C. M. (2004) Microfinance Institutions in Nigeria: Policy, Practice and Potentials: Paper Presented at the G24 Workshop on “Constraints to Growth in Sub Saharan Africa,” Pretoria, South Africa, November 29-30, 2004
