Stakeholders’ Engagement And Sustainability Of Community Development Projects In Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Edward Dauda Ibrahim Anzaku, Kuje Emmanuel Amevey
Keywords: Stakeholders, self-help, sustainability and community project
Abstract
This paper assesses the role of stakeholders in ensuring the sustainability of development projects in selected communities of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to select Buhar community in Akwanga Local Government Area, Nasarawa North, Tundun Adabu in Obi Local Government Area, Nasarawa South and Karmu in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa West Senatorial District. Key Informant Interview was employed for data collection. A total of 45 participants were engaged in the interview; with fifteen participants from each selected community. The participants were purposively selected using community leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, community development workers, religious’ leaders, and physically challenged persons. Two major questions asked among others were; how stakeholders were involvement in the completed projects and how project are being managed. Data collected were content analyzed. English, Hausa, Eggon and Mada the native dialects of the participants were used to ensure adequate and proper understanding of the subject matter. The study result revealed that two of the selected projects were abandoned after completion, despite involvement of stakeholders. However, one of the projects is being owned and sustained by the community. The study also revealed two dimensions of participation: part-time and full-time participation. The study concludes that participation by relevant stakeholders in community or self-help projects remains a valuable principle in the sustenance of community projects. The paper recommends that community development workers should ensure proper and adequate community engagement in community projects from conception to evaluation.
Author Biography
Edward Dauda Ibrahim Anzaku
Department of Social Work, Federal University of Lafia, Narasawa State, Nigeria
Email: edwardanzaku@gmail.com
Kuje Emmanuel Amevey
Email: emmanuelamevey@gmail.com