Correlates of Sustainable Community Development Practice in Nigeria

Citizen participation in community development is often determined by some factors all over the world, including African nations. Some of these factors are local while some are global in nature. In Nigeria, community development practice has not received enough enthusiasm among people as a veritable tool for personal and sustainable community development. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design of ex- post facto type. The respondents for the study were 435 comprising community leaders, political class, religious leaders, and community members from Awe (220) in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State and Ikire (215) in Irewole Local Government Area, Osun State using multi-stage sampling technique. A self – constructed scale “Determinants Sustainable Community Development Practice Scale” r = .86 was used. Findings from the study revealed that good governance (r=0.841, df=433, P < 0.05), political cad community education (r=O.278, df-433, p<O.05) and government funding development (r=0.641, df=433, p<O.05) significantly correlated with citizen participation. Based on these findings, it is recommended that community members should be more mobilised to participate in community development; government should embark on political and community education, and provide responsible leadership based on the principles of good governance. Also, Government at all levels should provide financial support to communities particularly in Africa for sustainable community development programmes.