UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE

ABSTRACT

The study was aimed at assessing the extent to which community resources are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. To guide the study, five research questions were formulated with the intention of assessing the types of community development projects that are implemented utilizing community resources, the extent of utilization of physical, human and institutional resources that are utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area, and the extent to which factors militate against the effective utilization of community resources in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area. Also, four null hypotheses were tested at .05 level of significance and used to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was used. Simple sampling technique was employed to compose a sample of 285 respondents from a population of 964 members of the registered community development associations in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The instrument used for the study was a 45-item UCRICODEPQ structured questionnaire. The instrument was face validated by three experts; one in measurement and evaluation and two in community development, all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Its reliability was ensured using Cronbach alpha estimate. Reliability co-efficient of 0.81 was obtained. Frequencies and percentages, weighted mean and standard deviation were used in analyzing the collected data. A criterion mean of 2.50 was used in judging the responses as to whether they were accepted or not. Copies of the instrument were administered to the respondents through direct delivery technique. Findings of the study revealed that community physical, human and institutional resources were utilized to a moderate extent in the implementation community development projects. All the four null hypotheses were rejected showing that there were significant differences in the mean ratings of male and female members of community development associations on the extent to which community physical, human and institutional resources were utilized in the implementation of community development projects in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations were proffered which included that 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, and that Enugu State Government should build-in core leadership programme in the community development programmes through education empowerment.