SELF-HELP, COMMUNITY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA 1976-1991: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The desire to provide basic necessities, infrastructures and social amenities that could improve the living condition in the rural areas and enhance the well-being of rural dwellers is known to be of concern to communities in Igbo society. Government in recognition of this zeal synergized with the efforts of the people to provide their feltneeds. There is need to analyze and describe these efforts within a geo-political context and in time perspective. This paper undertakes this task with respect to Anambra State in the period, 1967-1991. This is against the backdrop that extant studies do not provide comprehensive and complete picture of the subject matter, nor do they present their analysis in an encompassing time horizon. Using data obtained from primary and secondary sources that are presented thematically and chronologically in which the qualitative and quantitative methods of research are deployed, this paper posits that selfhelp played key role in the provision of essential amenities in rural communities in Anambra state. This received more impetus when government galvanized the developmental zeal and self-help drive of the people, though its financial input to self-help projects drive remained infinitesimal.