Utilization of Community Resources in the Implementation of Community Development Projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State
CHAPTER ONE
Purpose of the Study
The general purpose of this study is to ascertain the extent to which community resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu-State.
Therefore, the specific objectives of the study include:
- to identify the types of community development projects that are implemented utilizing community resources in Nsukka Local Government
- to ascertain the extent to which physical resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government
- to ascertain the extent to which human resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government
- to find out the extent to which institutional resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government
- to ascertain the factors that militate against the effective utilization of community resources in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter will be reviewed under the following headings: Conceptual Framework
- Concept of utilization
- Concept of community development
- Concept of community resources Theoretical Framework
- Modernization theory
- Management by objectives (MBO)model
- Socialist theory
Review of Related Empirical Studies Summary of Reviewed Literature
Conceptual Framework
Under the conceptual framework, the following concepts were discussed: concept of utilization, concept of community development and concept of community resources.
Concept of utilization
The concept of utilization is not new. Utilization means the relationship between actual output (i.e. actually produced items with the installed equipment), and the potential output which could be produced with it, if capacity was fully used. According to Hornby (2006), utilization is the use of something for a practical purpose. Progressive utilization motivated by consumption and based on human values will ensure social security of resources. However, Proutist Universal Global Office (2011) stated that resources are generally defined as society’s stock of capital, labor, land, mineral wealth, the level of education, knowledge and technology. Resource implies a proper environment conducive to the physical, mental and spiritual development of individuals and society. Here, resources encompass subtle human properties
- psychic and spiritual potentialities. There are resources that are available to an individual and those available to the society. The resources that are available to an individual may be categorized into physical, mental and spiritual resources. The meaning of physical resources is obvious – it derives from the human body
- its health, strength and stamina. A healthy person has a greater capacity to work and enjoy. In capitalist society everything including human beings is reduced to mere commodities. This certainly degenerates human potentialities; human beings are converted into robots, and human aspirations and sentiments are neglected. Proper utilization of human physical resources means the right to work in a proper way for social
According to Proutist Universal Global Office (2011), there is tremendous loss of human power due to defective planning in the present-day world. The capitalist profit-motivated economy and the state monopoly in former communist countries have subjugated human physical potentialities, thereby preventing the formation of a sound social structure. Care should be taken that these potentialities do not get exhausted in the pursuit of consumer goods only. These potentialities should be utilized to promote human progress. Intellectual and spiritual knowledge should not be the monopoly of any person, family or group.
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CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter presented the research procedure adopted in the study. It was discussed under the following; area of the study, population of the study, sample and sampling technique, instrument for data collection, validation of the instrument, reliability of the instrument, procedure for data collection, and method of data analysis.
Design of the Study
The research design used for the study was descriptive survey research design. Descriptive survey, according to Nworgu (2006) refers to those studies which aim at collecting data on, and describing in a systematic manner, the characteristics, features or facts about a given population. These studies are only interested in describing certain variables in relation to the population. The design was considered most adequate for this study because it intended to systematically collect and describe the extent to which community resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area.
Area of the Study
The study was carried out in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. There are 34 autonomous communities spread along the three local government development centres that exist in Nsukka Local Government Area. They are Nsukka Central Local Government Development Centre (Eziani; Ajuona-Obimo, Akautara-Obimo, Obige-Obukpa, Ogbagu-Obukpa, Owere- Obukpa, Ajuona-Obukpa, Nru, Nkpunano, Ihe/Owere, Uwani Lejja and Lejja Autonomous Communities), Nsukka West Development Centre (Okutu, Anuka, Ibagwa-Ani, Ibagwa-Agu, Alor-Uno, Okpaligbo, Okpuje, Ozzi-Edem and Akpa-Edem Autonomous Communities) and Nsukka East Development Centre (Umabor, Eha-Alumona, Opi, Idi-Opi, Opi-Agu, Agu-Umabo, Breme, Ezebunagu, Eha-Azabor, Agbamere, Ede-Nta, Ede-Ukwu and Eha-Uno Autonomous Communities.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
In this chapter, the data collected are presented and analyzed using the tools already mapped out in the previous chapter. The data are organized according to the research questions asked and the hypotheses that were postulated.
Research Question One
What are the types of community development projects that are implemented utilizing community resources in Nsukka Local Government Area?
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the Discussion of the Findings, Educational Implications of the Study, Conclusion, Recommendations, Limitations of the Study and finally, Suggestions for Further Research.
Discussion of the Findings
The findings of the study were discussed based on the research questions:
The types of community development projects that are implemented utilizing community resources: The findings of the study revealed that the community development projects that are adequately implemented utilizing community resources are market stalls/lock-up shops, maternity and health centres, rural feeder roads, Church buildings, primary and secondary schools, civic centres, adult education centres, rural electrification and food processing machines. This has to be so as the various communities now implement various types of community development projects utilizing resources from the communities without waiting for government to provide them. Supporting the findings of the study, Ngwu (2004) noted that there are various types of community projects embarked upon by the community people. Hence, there are projects like rural water projects, hospital and maternity homes, schools, civic centres, post offices, rural electrification, rural feeder roads, market stalls, among others. Also, these
community projects are initiated by private individuals or groups or members of a given community for the purpose of helping themselves and contributing towards the overall progress of the society. These projects vary and are initiated based on the priorities of the community through series of dialoguing and other decision-making processes. The people also initiated the identified projects bearing in mind that such projects will help them meet their cultural, social, and economic needs and thereby help them contribute in the development of their local government area and the society at large.
Educational Implications of the Study
The findings of the study have several implications for an effective implementation of community development projects. This will be effectively implemented when the community members effectively utilize the various community resources in the implementation of community development projects. The community resources that can be effectively utilized in the implementation of community development projects are physical, human and institutional resources.
On the utilization of physical resources, the study revealed that proceeds from hiring of their community chairs and canopies, sale or utilization of community forest trees, community sand, lands, gravels and stones, and water, and proceeds from community income-generating projects are utilized to a moderate extent. The implication is that the resulting education empowerment of the people can stimulate the existing community leadership and also, encourage new leaders to seek for resources that are within their communities. It will eventually spark further development efforts towards identifying various community development projects that can be implemented utilizing community resources. The findings will enable governmental agencies to properly disseminate information and offer technical and managerial assistance to the members of the community development associations on matters pertaining to adequate utilization of community physical resources in the implementation of community development projects.
Conclusion
This study assessed the extent to which community resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The study was carried out on 302 members of community development associations from 12 registered community development associations in the local government area. It was done with the aim of improving the extent of utilizing community resources in the development of community projects thereby achieving sustainable community development in the country. However, the achievement of the sustainable community development is dependent upon the effective utilization of community physical, human and institutional resources in the implementation of community development projects.
To guide the study, five research questions were formulated while four hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance. The design of the study was descriptive survey research method. The data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by computing and comparing the mean scores, and by the use of Student t-test statistics.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were proffered:
Both state and local governments should come to the assistance of the various communities by conscientizing them on the need to involve everybody in the implementation of community development projects. They should ensure total community involvement in community development. To ensure this, the ministry of rural development should endeavour to delegate powers to local leaders at all levels of the community who should account for the exercise of that power.
Various governmental agencies should disseminate information and offer technical and managerial assistance to the members of the community development associations in the state on matters pertaining to adequate utilization of community resources in the implementation of community development projects. They should ensure the proper development of appropriate skills (human capital development) as well as implementation capacity to sustain new technologies and improvement of social welfare in the various communities.
Limitations of the Study
The study accomplished the aim for which it set out. However, the limitation encountered in the course of carrying out the study is that though the researcher trained research assistants for the study, such extraneous variables as reactions of the members of the community development associations who are the respondents might distort the actual information needed.
Suggestions for Further Research
The findings of the study made the researcher to suggest that further research be carried out in the following areas:
- Similar study should be conducted in other local government areas of Enugu
- Assessment of the extent of mobilization of women for effective utilization of community resources in the implementation of community development projects in Enugu State.
- Assessment of the extent to which community mobilization strategies have been utilized in the execution of community development projects in Enugu
- Assessment of the problems and prospects of effective community resources utilization in the implementation of community development projects in Enugu State.
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