The Role of Non–Government Organizations in Community Development. (A Case Study of Ngor–Okpala South Local Government Area)
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
This project is aimed at analysing the contributions of non-governmental organizations towards the development of Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.
It will try top examine some of their experiences while undertaking these developmental endeavours in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.
CHAPTER TWO
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF NGOR-OKPALA L G A
Ngor-Okpala local government Area lies within the rain forest Zone of Nigeria. It is a bounded by owerri local government area in the North, Abor-Mbaise in the North-East, Isiala Ngwa in the South East and Eche local Government in Rivers State in the South West.
Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area was created out of the former owerri Local Government Area in 1989 with its Headquarters at umuneke Ngor. Its present Headquarters- Umuneke- was the administrative Headquarters of former owerri local Government Area before spilt. The local Government could be classified as old to the extent that it inherited the headquarters pf former Owerri local Government Area. Otherwise it lacks all facilities associated with old local government
“Ngor and Okpala” are names of two major communities in the local government area. These centers came into prominence during British colonization of Nigeria.
Having appointed warrant Chiefs and district officers to handle judicial and administrative management of this area, some customary courts were set up. For admimistrative conventence, two of these courts were located at Ngor and Okpala respectively. The paramount Chiefs of both Okpala and Ngor were powerful and recognition was accorded the customary courts at Ngor and Okpala to serve as anchoring points for other smaller courts within the area in matters above their jurisdiction.
When it was time for country council Elections the names of these two major communities were incorporated and the area became known as Ngor-okpala Country Council which has now metamorphosed into Ngor-okpala Local Government Area.
Ngor-Okpala community of old had very few educated people. Parents of those days considered education as insignificant to their felt needs. Instead, greater emphasis was laid on agro-allied skills s most of her citizenry participated in farming activities. When the British came only those children considered to be “Stubborn” were “clashed” to the whites for education purposes while the “Loved” and “Obedient” ones were taken to the farms shown all the all the boundaries in each farm land, taught how to hunt and kill animals and shown hoe to climb palm trees. There were not much transport facilities and major marketing contacts were done on foot. They wealthy farmers buried their money inside the ground for safety and used substantial part of their wealth in buying domestic animals.
Today, the Ngor-Okpala community has produced intellectuals in all facts of life. But what appears a major constraint is what Mr. Sabinus Okpala, an indigene of the area put in a blunt language as “my money is for my children” syndromes under this system parents mostly train their biological Children. Consequently brilliant children with poor parents rust away unceremoniously.
PHYSICAL FEATURES:
Ngor-Okpala is an undulating low-land transversed by streams, majority of which forms tributaries to the Imo River. The Streams are Ogochie which transverses ununeke /okike towns and uraminukwa which transverses ulakwo, imerienwe and Ozuzu town. The entire area is dolted by palm and Rafia trees.
POPULATION
Ngor – Okpala local Government Area is estimated based on the 1963 census count, and allowing a 3.3% growth rate, to have a population of about 203,926.
OCCUPATION
Ngor – Okpala Government Area is blesses with very fertile land with impressive food output. Many of its citizens are engage in agro allied produce at both subsistence and commercial scales. Some Ngor – Okpala son’s and daughters are engaged in the teaching profession while others are scattered all over the country and abroad in different fields of endeavour.
ECONOMY
Ngor – Okpala local Government Area as well as most communities in Imo State engage in trading activities.
Consequently, a lot of agricultural products like palm kernel, etc. Exchange hands Some of these products are transported to Cities like Lagos, Kaduna, Owerri, Aba, and other major towns in the Country. Cultivation of farm lands are done by manual labour – using hoes and cutlasses. Non – availability of access roads in this community hinders movement of its products to other area e.g. during rainy season, commercial vehicles find it hard to penetrate into these communities. Major business transaction are conducted on specific local market days namely Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo.
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 the role of non-governmental organizations in community development ( a case study of Ngor Okpala South Local Government)
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 the role of non-governmental organizations in community development. 200 residents of Ngor Okpala South Local Government was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
The data collected from the respondents were analyzed in tabular form with simple percentage for easy understanding.
A total of 133(one hundred and thirty three) questionnaires were distributed and 133 questionnaires were returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to to the role of non-governmental organizations in community development ( a case study of Ngor Okpala South Local Government). 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 of non-governmental organizations in community development
Summary
This study was on to the role of non-governmental organizations in community development (a case study of Ngor Okpala South Local Government). Two objectives were raised which included: analysing the contributions of non-governmental organizations towards the development of Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area. It will try to examine some of their experiences while undertaking these developmental endeavours in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 residents Ngor Okpala South Local Government The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up village heads, elders, family heads and youths was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The observed role of Non Governmental Organizations towards the development of the society in general is enormous and inexhaustible, and its activities cut across all sphere of human endeavours. In this regard, more is expected to be put in place by the growing number of NGOs in Ngor Okpala South Local Government, for the overall well being of the society. These they can do through an effective collaborative programmes and strategies with an effective and efficient leadership structure. To be able to meet up with the millennium development goals (MDGs). Strategizing to ensure sustainable development in Nigerian local communities, through empowerment of the people with knowledge required to participate actively in the process of development. The challenge before the NGOs in Nigeria currently is to fashion out ways to get rid of the increasing challenges posed by poverty, malaria, HIV and AIDs, oppression, political and socio-economic powerlessness of the more than 90 percent of Nigerians. And proffer ways of achieving a healthier, functional and more productive nation
Recommendation
NGOs should be more proactive and sensitive towards the goal they have chosen to pursue and the welfare of those employed by them well care for. There is a high need for training and research for NGO functionaries as this is observed to be the basis for its sustenance and survival. Equally of great importance is the urgent need for NGOs to look inward, in sourcing funds for its activities internally, rather than waiting for the support of international donors alone, which do rarely come.
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