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THE ROLE OF NON – GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF NGOR – OKPALA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA).

ABSTRACT

The research is on role of non-government Organizations in Community Development with a case study of Ngor – Okpala South L.G.A The burden of developing a community is not an easy task.  To develop a community entails an advancement in it’s socio-economic, political and cultural life.  Most communities in this struggle for self improvement. In Ngor-Okpala South Local Government Area, non-governmental Organizations are the moving spirit in the field of community development. They start from the scratch, initiating financing and executing development programmes with or without the assistance of government. The quest for community development should not be left alone in the hands of non-governmental organizations nor in those of the government. Since both efforts are complementary, it should be seen as a joint task and responsibility. Recently government tries to restore hope in the rural poor through the creation of agencies.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

Ngor-Okpala local government Area is amongst the thirty local government areas in Imo State.  It is made up of 16 automous communities which include Amala/Alulu/Obokwe; Elelem, Eziama; okpala; Ngor/Umukabia; Ntu; obiangwu/Logara.Obibiezena;Obike;Obubu;Ulakwo;Ohekelem/Nnorie/Umuhu; Umuaro – Imerienwe; Umuohiagu; Ozuzu and Agbala. As each community is large, it’s responsibilities are necessarily in terms of developmental needs. Needs of communities differ both in importance and priorities.  What constitute “development” in Eziama may not constitute “development” in Ihitte.  A community may have as it’s priority “electricity supply” while another may have “water supply as it’s priority.  However the important thing is that all the communities understudy agree on the need for an enhanced socio economic, political and cultural life of the community.

Agreeably, Government alone cannot provide these services Julius Nyerere had said that if people realize that they suffering is not the will of God, they will make efforts and sacrifices.  It could have been this realization that spurred non-governmental organizations in Ngor-Okpala local government into action.  But while non-governmental bodies are making efforts towards improving the living  conditions of Ngor-Okpala populace.   It must be stressed that there is need for adequate government participation in this development bid.  If these organizations in better rural community will matererilize.

Credence is laid to this when one looks at the united nations definition of community development.  According to them, community development is the process by which the affects of the people themselves are united with those of government authorities to improve the economic social and cultural conditions of communities to integrate these communities into the life of the nation and to enable them to contribute fully to national process community development by this definition, ought to be a joint effort between government and the people of the rural communities.

1.1   STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

A common task facing developing and under – developed nations today, including Nigeria, is the development of rural area.   Development of the rural areas or communities means an improvement or advancement in the socio-economic, political and cultural life style of people.  In most rural comities including Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, there is insignificant provision of basic human needs like Hospitals, pipe-borne water, tarred and motorable roads, schools etc, by government.  This attitude on the part of government creates an impression in the minds of people that they are not part of the body politics. Consequently, the people rely on what they can afford to fend for themselves.  It is this quest for self-reliance that leads to initiation of community development project of community development projects by non-governmental organizations.

The problem of non-development of rural areas spreads across all states of Nigeria but in more pronounced in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area – which is my area of study.  In this community there is object neglect of provision of these facilities by government.  Developmental activities are borne by non-governmental organizations like Town Unions, Churches, Age Grades, Social Clubs etc with little or no contributions from government. This study will attempt at identifying the nature and scope of developmental projects undertaken by non-governmental organizations in Nogr-Okpala Local Government Area. It will also find out what kind of problems that confront these non-Governmental organizations in it’s quest to improve the life of Ngor-Okpala Citizens.

1.2       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.

1.3  SIGNIFICANCRE OF THE STUDY

The essence of this study is to draw the attenti of the Local State and Federals Government. This research  draws the attention of government to the need for stepping up their matching grants as well as provision of human and material assistance to communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area who are embarking on one developmental project or the other. Through this research, communities in Ngor-Okpala local Government Area will realize once again that government own her a duty to assist he in her developmental efforts and there by which government will be made up to perform her own part of the obligation. Finally, this research  will aid students towards making  further research in this area as well as serve as an invaluable source of information on Ngor-Okpala Community.

1.4  DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

ROLE – persons task or duty in an undertaking NON-GOVERNMENTAL – Any group set up, that is out side direct government control or involvement.

ORGANISATION:- They are social and technical devices or instrument that help in the accomplishment of goals that are too large and complex to be handled by one person.

COMMUNITY -  A territorially bounded social system within which people live in  harmony, love, intimacy and share common social, economic and cultural characteristics.

DEVELOPMENT – A continuous process of positive change in the quality and span of life of a person or group of persons.

GOVERNMENT- An authoritative unit of the state which has the sole function of achieveing the ends of the state- provision of welfare services, maintenance of law and order and establishing and maintaining of relations with similar units in other state.

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

I have out lined the following hypothesis to serve as a guide to our thought throughout this research.

1. Activities of non-governmental organizations promote community          
Development in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

2. Inadequate financial resources limits the activities of non-governmental    organisations in community development in Ngor-Okpala Local      Government Area.

3.  Insufficient human resources hampers the efforts of non-governmental    
  organisations to contribute to community development in Ngor- Okpala 
  Local Government Area.

4.  Group conflicts undermine the ability of non-governmental Organisations 
 to effect Local Government Area.

1.6  METHODOLOGY

Data for this research was generated from the following sources.

a. Primary Sources-  Interview: I interview indigenes of the communities in Ngor – Okpala Local Government Area where some developmental projects have been completed and ?or in progress. also interviewed officials at Ngor-Okpala local Government Area head quarters. 

b.  Secondary Sources-

c. Publications- J urnals, Books, Newspapers, Magazines.

1.7  THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In organizing this research, my theoretical framework of analysis draws from David Easton’s systems model. David Eastons’s analysis of political system emphasizes input, demand and supply, and the conversion process by which authorities deal with these inputs, the outputs that result and the feedback mechanisms that adjust outputs to inputs. Easton looks at the way this system exists in the face of stress arising from with in the system.  Since the environment is affected by the administrative processed, it feedbacks new stimuli which affects the agency. Then the agency starts reaching to the environmental changes. In environment, inputs, theory emphasizes on the environment, inputs, conversion, output and feedback.  All  these components have relationship and can only be quantified in relation to inputs and outputs.      

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