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World J Young Researchers 2012;2(2):26 ISSN 2249-0566 2 Coker et al., 2012. Problems and Prospects of Implementing Rural Transformation Programmes
Original Article
Social Science
Problems and Prospects of Implementing Rural Transformation Programmes in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria
Maurice Ayodele COKER *, Ugumanim Bassey OBO
[ENGLISH/ANGLAIS ANGLAIS] ABSTRACT [ENGLISH/ANGLAIS]
Policy analysts, policy advocates, and other stakeholders in socioeconomic and political development in developing societies have over years placed more emphasis on rural transformation through the development of the local government areas as the best policy option. Consequently, they have implemented numerous rural development programmes that have largely failed to achieve their set goals and objectives. We explore the reasons for these failures, which include lack of rural dwellers’ participation in policy formulation; lack of political will on the part of the policy elites to painstakingly define the problems of rural development within the context of inequality, unemployment and poverty in the society; lack of strong and appropriate network of institutions to support and implement programmes; and incongruity in programmes vis-a-vis the apparent needs and desires of beneficiaries. Others are inadequate financial bases for programmes; misapplication and misappropriation of finances and other programme inputs by implementers; lack of access to requisite technology; adoption of archaic and inappropriate technical knowledge, besides the inclination to cling on to the traditional modes of behavior. However, the paper posits that the situation can be reversed positively by: clearly defining problems of the rural societies in all its ramifications; assessing all possible options for handling the problems with minimum costs; effective monitoring of programmes, effective mobilization of rural human and material resources; and provision of rural
World J Young Researchers 2012;2(2):26 ISSN 2249-0566 2 Coker et al., 2012. Problems and Prospects of Implementing Rural Transformation Programmes
Original Article
Social Science
Problems and Prospects of Implementing Rural Transformation Programmes in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria
Maurice Ayodele COKER *, Ugumanim Bassey OBO
[ENGLISH/ANGLAIS ANGLAIS] ABSTRACT [ENGLISH/ANGLAIS]
Policy analysts, policy advocates, and other stakeholders in socioeconomic and political development in developing societies have over years placed more emphasis on rural transformation through the development of the local government areas as the best policy option. Consequently, they have implemented numerous rural development programmes that have largely failed to achieve their set goals and objectives. We explore the reasons for these failures, which include lack of rural dwellers’ participation in policy formulation; lack of political will on the part of the policy elites to painstakingly define the problems of rural development within the context of inequality, unemployment and poverty in the society; lack of strong and appropriate network of institutions to support and implement programmes; and incongruity in programmes vis-a-vis the apparent needs and desires of beneficiaries. Others are inadequate financial bases for programmes; misapplication and misappropriation of finances and other programme inputs by implementers; lack of access to requisite technology; adoption of archaic and inappropriate technical knowledge, besides the inclination to cling on to the traditional modes of behavior. However, the paper posits that the situation can be reversed positively by: clearly defining problems of the rural societies in all its ramifications; assessing all possible options for handling the problems with minimum costs; effective monitoring of programmes, effective mobilization of rural human and material resources; and provision of rural
References: [1] Todaro M, Smith SC. Economic development. Eight Edition Pearson Education (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, Indian Branch, 482 F.I.E. Patparganj, Delhi, 110 092. India. 2004. [2] Ossei-Bonsu implications, [3] SN. Alternative of approaches and strategies to rural development in Africa and their Journal Development Studies 1983;3(1&2):25-35. Abaker, CO . (The concept of rural development”, Summary of FAO Inter-Regional Seminar on Integrated Development. 1977. Cited in “Coker MA. Problems of Implementing rural development programmes in the Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. An unpublished M.Sc Thesis submitted to the Graduate School, University of Calabar. 1990.” [4] Eli RA. Increased rural productivity in a depressed economy through transportation improvements: Paper presented at a National Conference on Rural Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria. 1986. [5] Ani AA.Economic policy and macroeconomic performance; the Nigerian Experience since 1994, in Why have economic policies failed in Nigeria? Proceedings of the One-Day Seminar held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos. Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian Economic Society. 1997. [6] Ollawa PE. On Dynamic Model for Rural Development in Africa, Journal of Modern African Studies 1997;15:401-23. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / SOURCE OF SUPPORT Nil CONFLICT OF INTEREST No conflict of interests was declared by authors. How to Submit Manuscripts Since we use very fast review system, and since we are dedicated to publishing submitted articles with few weeks of submission, then the easiest and most reliable way of submitting a manuscript for publication in any of the journals from the publisher Research, Reviews and Publications (also known as Research | Reviews | Publications) is by sending an electronic copy of the well formatted manuscript as an email attachment to rrpjournals@gmail.com or online at http://www.rrpjournals.com/ . Submissions are often acknowledged within 6 to 24 hours of submission and the review process normally starts within few hours later, except in the rear cases where we are unable to find the appropriate reviewer on time. OPEN ACCESS © Research | Reviews | Publications, 2011 http://www.rrpjournals.com/