Conference Paper

IMPACT OF SELF –HELP INITIATIVES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN OGUN STATE: A STUDY OF IWOYE TOWN

This study examined the impact of self-help initiatives on community development in Ogun State, using Iwoye Town in Yewa South Local Government Area as the study area. The research was motivated by the need to assess how community-driven development efforts contribute to improving the socioeconomic well-being of residents in the face of inadequate government provision of basic infrastructure and social services. Specifically, the study examined the development programmes initiated through self-help, assessed the impact of self-help initiatives on community development, and identified the constraints affecting the implementation of self-help projects in Iwoye Town. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to residents of the community, while secondary data were obtained from books, journal articles, and official publications. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that self-help initiatives have significantly contributed to community development through the provision of drainage systems, improved security, environmental sanitation, free medical services, and other community-based projects. The study further established a statistically significant relationship between community development programmes and the effectiveness of the self-help system (p < 0.05). However, inadequate funding, poor collaboration among community members, and external interference were identified as major constraints limiting the effectiveness of self-help initiatives. The study concluded that self-help initiatives remain an effective mechanism for promoting sustainable community development by enabling communities to identify and address their priority needs through collective action. It recommended greater community participation in project identification and implementation, improved transparency and accountability in the management of community resources, stronger collaboration between communities and government agencies, and the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms to enhance the effectiveness of self-help initiatives in Ogun State. These findings support existing evidence that community-driven development complements government efforts in improving rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable development. Keywords; Self-help. Rural Development, Community development and community participation