ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING SELF HELP GROUP PROJECTS IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
ASSESSMENT OF THE STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING SELF HELP GROUP PROJECTS IN PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-05
Authors
DANLADI, Lydia
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Abstract
Self-help groups have been introduced in several communities and Paikoro Local Government Area is one of such communities. Many projects have been executed by Self-help groups in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State. How these projects are managed after they have been completed would determine their sustainability. This research assesses the strategies the self-help groups have adopted for sustaining projects in Paikoro L.G.A. The specific objectives are to: identify existing self-help groups in the study area and the projects they have executed; examine the process of need identification and resource mobilization for projects execution by the self-help groups and examine the people’s opinion on the effectiveness of projects executed by different self-help groups in meeting the needs for which they were executed and examine the management styles being used and their effects on the sustainability of the projects. This study adopts purposive sampling to select respondents. A total of 140 questionnaires were administered to the SHG leaders and 382 questionnaires were administered to community members. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques of the SPSS computer programme in form of frequencies and tables to present information gathered in a summary form. The key findings are that Projects such as roads, clinic, boreholes, electrification, skill acquisition centers, schools, community toilet have been executed as at 2010. The process of identifying needs is basically through meetings, consultations and constant dialogue by Self-help groups, ward heads and the citizens. In the area of resource mobilization, for project execution, personnel are readily available, appeal for donation, fund raising ceremonies, levy, and contributions by the community members are also given. The impact of the projects has been felt by the citizens as claimed by 77.5%. The complexity of the projects in terms of usage is very simple to operate by the citizens as 87.3% agreed to that. Citizen participation is highly encouraged and forms the bedrock of project sustainability strategy among the self-help groups. Other project sustainability strategies being used are: a)project operation and maintenance, b)Participatory strategy of need identification, c)regular fund sourcing, d)locating projects at points that are central to all beneficiaries and, e)carrying along traditional rulers at the village level as well as political leaders at the local and state government levels. This shows that the sustainability prospect of self-help group projects in Paikoro Local Government Area is fairly good. It is recommended that Community participation is a weapon to be used for sustainability in projects, as the citizens treat such projects as their own.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA
MAY, 2014
Keywords
ASSESSMENT,, STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINING SELF HELP GROUP PROJECTS,, PAIKORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,, NIGER STATE,, NIGERIA.