SELF-HELP PROJECTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ZARIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE
SELF-HELP PROJECTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ZARIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE
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Date
1988-12
Authors
IDEH, MORRIS,
OKORO
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Abstract
A B S T R A C T
Two of the most serious problems inherent
in rural development planning are the i d e n t i f i c a t i on
of the needs of the target population of a plan and
r a i s i ng sufficient funds to execute the projects
that would satisfy such needs. Hitherto, the top -
down approach to planning has distorted the planners'
conception of the role of the people as a creative
force in development. It has also denied planners
of local resources which if combined with those
government would greatly help to alleviate the
problem of shortage of resources and lead to a
more rational planning.
This study examines the roles of rural commu
n i t i e s in the development process in the Zaria
Local Glvernment Area, Kaduna State. The aim is
to identify and assess various categories of selfhelp
community projects undertaken in the area and
to analyse the extent to which these projects
r e f l e c t the resources, needs, perception and socioeconomic
conditions of the rural communities. It
also examines the success of these projects with
a view to evolving a strategy that can harmonize
the local resources as are available with those of
the government.
The research findings revealed that in areas where
the government had failed to meet up with the aspirations
of the people in terms of their felt
needs, the people have excelled. This is because
the rural communities in the Zaria Local Government
Area have effectively mobilized resources locally
for the provision of their basic needs such as physical
infrastructures like roads, bridges, culverts
etc, and social infrastructures like market stalls,
classrooms, mosques etc. Most of these projects
were either initiated, planned, financed and implemented
by the communities or in conjunction with
the government. The study further revealed that
in the context of rural development, an effective
cooperative system can act as a catalyst utilizing
the pooled resources of the rural poor for their
social and economic upliftment. Social clubs for
associations (e.g. Zaman Lafiya Amaru club, Sogayya
Matasa, etc) were identified to have co-existed with
and reinforced development committees as effective
instruments for planning and executing local schemes
on a self-help basis. These organications therefore
formed the framework within which self-help projects
were carried outt
In Nigeria in general, and the study area in
particular, community participation in local development
projects has been part and parcel of the
people*s culture. Members of rural communities are
used to contributing either money, materials, food
and labour for the development of their area as a
whole. In fact, self-help groups have become significant
agents for promoting rural development in
the rural areas and as a consequence should be given
whatever encouragement and support that is affordable»
The important collaborative role played by these groups
should be given due recognition by government. There
is the need for their coordination, moreso, when
communities within and between dictricts operate
independently and expend scarce resources on similar
projects* This was very glaring in the study area in
their roads and culverts constructions, that is,
duplication of efforts and waste of resources that
could have been used for alternative projects.
The study therefore suggests the creation of
development areas at the d i s t r i c t level within
local government sureas in order to carry democ
r a t i c self-government closer to the local people
and influence in a direct way the course of rural
development.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
Keywords
SELF-HELP,, PROJECTS,, RURAL,, DEVELOPMENT:, CASE STUDY,, ZARIA,, LOCAL, GOVERNMENT,, AREA,, KADUNA,, STATE