WILBERFORCE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (WJSS)
ISSN: 2504 – 9232
Volume 4, No. 1 & 2, September 2019
Pages 126-150
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/9102.40.010280
PROMOTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF THE COMMUNITYSELF-HELP STRATEGY IN BAYELSA STATE
BUBARAYI GODDY IBANI
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to seek for a more viable strategy in dealing with the perennial problems of poverty and underdevelopment in the rural areas of Bayelsa State , and worsened by the nature of politics and governance that undermine the values of democratic development by the political elite. Indeed, the principles of democracy such as economic freedom, political participation, competition, mass mobilization, rule of law etc. that would have promoted rural development have been sacrificed for personal interest as against public interest. The Marxian political economy theory was adopted in explaining the dynamics of production, distribution and exchange relations. The analysis was anchored on the productive forces, (the unity of labour power and the means of production) being the major determinants of the dynamics of society and its history. The study adopted descriptive survey reliant on the qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Data analysis was based on the statistical method using the simply percentages and frequency distribution. The study revealed that government support to community self-help projects was not adequate. Also, official development policies have tended to urban biased thereby laying bare the necessary amenities and facilities to raise their socio-economic wellbeingof the area The study advocates the introduction of economic empowerment policies, programmes and legislations that would promote participatory rural development culture aimed at making the rural populace more productive and self-reliant.
Keywords: Rural development, Community self-help strategy, productive forces, Democracy, Politics, privatization