EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS ON RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study examined the effects of community based projects on rural infrastructural development in Ondo State. The study focused on the Community Driven Development {CDD} Concept in which individual communities develop ideas, initiate, prioritize, plan and implement worthwhile and sustainable projects aimed at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger within their communities. Specifically it identified the activities of community based development strategies in providing sustainable livelihood and infrastructure in rural communities and it also evaluated how the adopted strategies have influenced the lives of the respondents and communities. The study was conducted using both primary and secondary data. The research instruments used include structured questionnaire and interview schedule. A multistage sampling technique was utilized in one hundred and forty four {144} respondents from Four Local Government Areas (LGAs) which have benefited from the IFAD/ Niger Delta Development Commission community-based project utilized for the study. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (61.8%) were male, young and married, mostly male headed households with large family sizes. A greater percentage (68.1%) of the respondents passed through basic and advanced education, a large percentage (44.8%) had farming as their primary occupation with a mean monthly income of N12, 520.00. About (82%) was adequately informed about the projects carried out by IFAD/ NDDC in their various communities and 63.3% of the respondents were involved in projects implementation. Majority of rural households contributed to the sustainability of CBDP projects through the payment of counterpart funds (71.5%), replacement of damaged project parts (95.2%), clearing of project surroundings (79.9%), prevention of project vandalization (77.8%), fencing of projects, providing vigilante groups (63.9) and regular meetings to review project performance and problems (79.9%). 82% of the respondents perceived the projects to be very effective except the cassava processing machines, training on bee keeping with kits as well as erosion control projects. The Chi-square analysis showed that there is no significant association between marital status (X2=0.27)P≤5%, sex (X2=0.67) P≤5%, monthly income (X2=0.16) P≤5%, primary occupation (X2=0.28) P≤5% and their participation in community based development projects. Result also revealed that age (X2=18.08) P≤5%, educational status (X2=13.07) P≤5%, family size (X2=13.4) P≤5% and status in the community (X2=5.23) P≤5% that showed significance at 5% level of significance. Correlation analysis also revealed a significant relationship between participation in implementation of community projects (r= 0.630) and sustainability of Community-based projects. The study recommends that the government and other development related agencies should encourage community participation in projects to ensure its sustainability. More rural dwellers should be involved in planning community development projects by governments, non-governmental organizations and donor agencies to increase participation in implementation and sustainability of projects. IFAD/NDDC should re-access the package for erosion control and Bee keeping training to ensure its effectiveness in rural communities. Combination of various communication methods should be used by various agencies involved in community development projects so as to enhance the effective mobilization of the stakeholders.