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Role of Voluntary Organizations in Community Development in Nigeria

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Role of Voluntary Organizations in Community Development in Nigeria
Role of Voluntary Organizations in Community development in Nigeria
Submitted by Ekweruo Chigozie Kenneth.
Bsc. Pub.Administration & L.G Studies
University Of Nigeria Nsukka

ABSTRACT
Community development entails the provision of infrastructural facilities to the people. The provision of these social amenities can be attained through a number of ways and/or organizations which includes, the government, community development associations, Voluntary Organizations. A Voluntary Organization or Volunteers Organization is any organization that uses the human resources of volunteers for achieving its main purpose.
Community participation can be facilitated by the use of voluntary organizations. The importance of voluntary organizations with regards to community participation lies in the fact that the mobilization of resources and support for any type of development activity does not necessarily involve the totality of the people in a project community at the same time. Their full involvement can be achieved through the instrumentality of existing voluntary organizations.
Voluntary organization abound in Nigeria communities. They include religious organization, Youth clubs, cultural organizations, village/town unions, age groups etc. These Organizations can be useful in enlisting the support of various groups like traders, farmers, Landlords, Youths, Women etc. They can equally contribute necessary human, material and financial resources for development purposes.
This Seminar paper therefore examines the roles of Voluntary organizations in Community development in Nigeria, their challenges and the need for government to partner with them in order to achieve the targeted objective in our rural communities.

INTRODUCTION
Poor performance of government in meeting the socio- economic quests of citizens has been identified as one of the reasons behind the proliferation of community based organizations (CBOs) in the new millennium. Along this line, Wahab (2000) observed that



References: Abegunde AA (2004). "Community Based Organizations in the Sustainable Development of the Rural Area of Atiba L.G.A., Oyo State. J.Inst. Town Plan.. 17: 1-14 Adejumobi S (1991). "Processes and Problems of Community organization for self-reliance". Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, Nigeria. Monograph Series no. 1. Anambra state of Nigeria (1987) Blue print for Rurual Development , Anambra State Official Document No. $ of 1987. Enugu. Government Printer. Anambra State of Nigeria (2007). State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (SEEDs) 2nd Edition. Bratton M (1990). "Non-Governmental Organizations in Africa", Can They Influence Public Policy?" Development and Change Vol.21. Cary LJ (1973). "The Community Approach." In Long H., et al (Edt.), Approaches to Community Development. Iowa: NUEA/ACT, 1973) pp. 39-40. CASSAD (1992). "Community Based Organisations as Vehicles for Socioeconomic Nwankwo BC. Dept of Public Administration. Kogi State University Ayigba. Enhancing Accelerated and Sustainable Rural Development through community participation. Obi V.A.O (2001) Modern Local Government Practice In Nigeria. Fulladu Publishing Company United Nations (1963). "Community Development and National Development: Report of an Ad Hoc Group of Experts", UN. New York.

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