AN ASSESSMENT OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF ESTAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE.
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to access youth participation in community development activities in Estako east local government area of Edo state. A study of this nature is considered to be of immense value to both government and the community members at large.
A detailed literature review was carried out on a number of issues relating to youth participation in community development activities in Estako east local government area of Edo state. this covered theories of participation in community development.
In order to achieve the purpose of the study, five research questions were raised and answered in the study.
Findings revealed that the level of participation of the youths in community development programmes were been low. the situation has been traced to the poor leadership structure, the neglect of the area by government and inadequate finances.
Finally it was observed for active youths participation in community development, the youth   should be adequately mobilized and there should be a regular monitoring of the programme by the developmental agencies.
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY    -    -    -
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM    -    -    
1.3 RESEARCH  QUESTION    -    -    -    -
1.4 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY    -    -    -
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY    -    -
1.6  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY    -    -    -
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS     -    -    -    
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL LITERATURE     -    
2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK    -    -    -
2.3 REVIEW OF RELEVANT THEORIES     -    -    
2.3.1 Theories of Participation    -    -    -    -
2.3.2 Participation in Community Development     -    -    
2.3.3 Principles Underlying Participation     -    -    -    
2.3.4 Variables Influencing/Affective Participation In Community Development
2.3.5 Religion And Cultural Variables And Participation    -    -
2.3.6 Political Factors And Participation    -    -    -
2.3.7 mobilization for participation in community development    -    -
2.3.8 community participation an activity and as a movement    -    
2.3.9 Problems Of Youth    -    -    -    -    -
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN    -    -    -    -    
3.2 POPULATION OF STUDY    -    -    -    
3.3 AREA OF STUDY    -    -    -    -    
3.4 SAMPLE SIZE    -    -    -    -    -    -    
3.5 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION    -    -    -    
3.6 METHOD DATA ANALYSIS    -    -    -    -    -
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 DATA PRESENTATION    -    -    -    -
4.2 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS    -    -    -    -
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 SUMMARY    -    -    -    -    
5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS     -    -    -    -    -    
5.3 CONCLUSION     -    -    -    -    -    -
References     -    -    -    -    -    -    
Appendix     -    -    -    
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The role of youth in community development cannot be over emphasized, as it has been seen that the purpose of community development is to eradicate poverty. Youth participation in community development project has been as old as human existence on earth. Their contribution towards community development in a given area like EtsakoEast local government area of Edo state  has much to be desired because it is generally accepted in most developing countries like Nigeria that government alone cannot develop all the rural communities as at when due.
     One major issue that has continuedto occur on the agenda for rapid and genuine development in Nigeria in recent times is how to secure the participation of youth in the development process. This is because of the belief by people that no genuine or viable and self-sustaining development can ever be achieved without the involvement of the people. Nowadays, the approach to development which ignores the needs, aspiration, rights and inputs of the local people is not only old fashioned but is also increasingly becoming unacceptable.
     In most part of the world, the challenge of rural development is being accepted as something that is worldwide. This is because most dwellers of rural areas for too long have been disadvantaged in terms of life and basic necessities and the desire to develop rural areas has been a major concern of the developing nation in the national development plans of these countries. Nigeria is not left out in this laudable task, hence the issue has been vigorouslypursued  in the country since the attainment of political independence in 1960.
    Youth participation occur in community development when the change agents and members of the community share the formulation and execution of proposals or plans and programmes designed to bring about improvement in the living standards of the people and that of the community (Paul 97:8). In other words, participation stipulates that the local people should take part in the planning, utilization and assessment of the social amenities of their facilities designed for the improvement of their welfare. It is such participation that gives the people the pride of ownership of the facilities completed in the process of community development.
    Idachaba& William (1986) noted that various measures has been taken, since 1960 which wheresupposed to increase the production in Nigeria and their measure has the aim of developing our rural economy. In spite of the various actions taken so far, Nigeria rural communities are yet to be developed and the living condition in our rural areas were mainly that of poverty, ignorance disease, filth and constant threat of life.
    In the rural area of Nigeria, inadequate health facilities and bad sanitary condition and practices obtained communicable disease and child malnutrition are prevalent despite the fact that in some area people live in the midst of plenty, rural diet is largely unbalance which Etsako east local government area is notleft out. As a result, some youth  have taken up the challenge of developing those areas by embarking on self-help project in their villages and under their community heads.
    More so, the concept emphasizes the initiative of the people as a means of stimulating the active participation of all youths. community development participation creates faith in common understanding. It enhances the possibility of success by which beneficiaries of development project influence the direction and execution of such project rather than merely receiving a share of project benefit
     Consequently, it is crucial to ensure in the course of designing development programmes, the active involvement and contributions of the entire people who should be educated to share in the responsibility along with the benefit of development are from the area. Youth participation can be in two forms: voluntary and involuntary. It is voluntary when such participation is readily provided without any attempt to stimulate. Participation is involuntary when it is stimulated by the development agent or change agent or other specialists for that matter. Community participation can be achieved through setting up of youth advisory group conducting opinion survey; and organizing members into civil and cultural organization.
     Participationhas the advantage  of increasing project efficiency, promoting projects effectiveness, helping to build the capacity of beneficiaries as well as enhancing the empowering the members of the community. It can also promote confidence building and create a sense of belonging in the people. This is sometimes referred to as people’s participation (pp). “this element emphasizes the involvement of the community members In the activities that are designed toenhance the development of their community. This is a very important factor in the process of community development.
     Before now, Nigeria argues,Idiode (1989) has adopted the superstructure approach of the technological society in seeking to bring about development. Such an approach/practice is based on the belief that a country can become quickly modernized and the benefits will trickle down to the community.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The development of rural community has been one of the primary objectives of  Nigeria since the attainment of independence in (1960). From then till the close of the seventies (1960-1980), agriculture and the provision of rural infrastructures featured prominently in the national economic development effort of the government.
     However, in Nigeria over 69 percent of its population dwells in rural areas for more than a quarter of century after independence (Olutundsun, 1975). The lot of the over seventy million Nigeria who dwell in the rural areas of the country has hardly improved in acute of the country with enormous resources, a greater percentage of the people of Etsako are still saddled with the problems of acute lack of basic amenities like good drinking water, electricity, motorable roads, communication facilities, better education, health institution, poverty and subsistence modes of agriculture. Most of the rural dwellers live in  deprived and disadvantaged conditions with particular regards to the various social and economic endeavors. This nature of Nigeria rural development problems appears to attract wide spread agreement.
1.3 Research Question
1.    What is the level of youth participation in community development programmes in the area?
2.    What are the forces influencing the level of youth participation in community development programmes in the area?
3.    What percentage of the youth have positive attitude towards community development programmes in the area?
4.     What percentage of the youth is adequately mobilized to participate in community development programmes in the area?
5.     Are there resources for mobilizing the youth for participation in community development programmes in the area?
1.4Objectives of Study
This study seeks to achieve the following objective/purpose:
1.    To ascertain the level of youths participation in community development programmes in the area
2.    To determine the forces influencing the level of youth participation in community development programmes in the area
3.     To ascertain the attitude of the youth towards community development programmes in the area.
4.     To find out if the youths are involved in planning of community development programmes in the area.
5.     To find out if the resource for mobilizing the youths for participation in community development programmes in the area are adequate
6.    To find out if the youths are adequately mobilized for participation in community development programmesin the area.
1.5Significance of the Study
This study is significant in many ways. The findings will provide an opportunity to know the extent to which Youth participate in community development has improved the living standard of the people in the community. It will create social consciousness Inthe Youth by being able toidentify their needs and felt-needs and finding possible solution in community development. The findings will also help other researchers who will like to carryout research on this area. The general public will be able to benefit from the findings by using the good roads, pipe borne water, etc, initiated by the youths, beside, the data gathered will help the government to provide facilities for more youths and also help to facilitate the youths participation in community development programs.
    Finally it is hoped that through the findings of this study, community development divisions in wards headquarters in EstakoEast Local Government Area would be encouraged to put more effort to mobilize Youthsto take active part in rural and community development programmes.
1.6Limitation of the Study
This study in the cause of investigation was faced with a number of limitations one of the most patent limitations was caused by human attitude towards research. Many people consider research as an exercise meant to expose the weakness of the programme and also a proves of finding out one’s secret.
     Due to this, many of the respondents in some communities failed to give or provide the correct information needed by the questions raised for fear of being exposed. It was for this reason that the researcher has to assure the respondents of confidentiality of information supplied.
     Time frame was another limiting factor. A study of this nature would normally require enough time to enable the researcher visit every communities in the local government area under study to sources for vital information relating to the focus to the study.
     Another limiting factor to this study rises from difficulty involved in obtaining references materials and getting vital information from the local government. The bureaucracy of the authority makes this difficult task.
     Finally, the study was also limited by the difficulty associated with collecting information from individuals, who are not politicians.
1.7 Definition of Terms
A number of terms were used in the course of preparing this study. For the purpose of clarity and avoidance of ambiguity, the following terms are explained in the sense in which they are used in the study.
Youth participation:Youth participation is used in this study to mean the involvement of the young people in the entire development project/programe in order to bring about a positive change
Rural development:This refers to the restructuring of the economy in order to satisfy the material needs and aspiration of the rural masses, and to promote individuals and collective  incentives to participate in the process of development. It is also aimed at bringing about improvement in the living standard of the rural masses with a view to   encourage and stimulating the people to participate in the transformation of their rural area.
Community: This may be regarded as a collection of the people who occupy a geographical area, people who are engaged in economic and political activities and who essentially constitute a self governing social unit with some common values and experiencing feelings of belonging to one another
Development: This is referred to as a form of change from a poor condition to a better one. It is also a type of social change in which new ideas are introduced into a social system to enhance living condition of the people.
Self help: This implies the improvement of the people through their own efforts largely for their own benefit without any external assistance.
Community development: This refers to the restructuring of the economy modern to satisfy the material needs and aspirations of the rural masses and to promote individual and collective incentives to participate in the process of development.
 Youth: This could  be defined as young people who are not yet fully accepted as adults. They are usually called youth because they are young, strong, dynamic and very active in the society and fall between the age of 18 to 45 years.