ABSTRACT 

This work centered on private enterprises and rural development in Anambra state. The objectives include: to ascertain the extent to which private enterprises have contributed to rural development in Anambra state; to find out the challenges facing private enterprises in rural development in Anambra state; to examine the measures to enhance participation of private enterprises in rural development in Anambra state.It is a survey type of research since it investigated what happened in the researcher’s absence. It is also explanatory in nature; having tried to explain the role played by private enterprises in Anambra state. In sampling, stratified random sampling technique was applied where the researcher created strata to represent different interests within the population. Also, purposive sampling was applied in the selection of the respondents, since only those who possessed relevant information could respond well to the researcher’s interview. In the same vein, data was gathered using primary and secondary instruments such as interview, books and journals. Content analysis was used to analyze the data gathered. Thus, the findings are that: private enterprises in Anambra state have not contributed to rural development through the provision of social infrastructure, though their presence in the rural areas of Anambra state has helped in solving the problem of rural-urban migration. They have provided employment as in the case of Innoson Nigeria Limited; poor planning, lack of managerial skill and lack of fund are among the challenges facing private enterprises in rural development in Anambra state; the formation of unions and associations by private enterprises, fair government regulations and cordial relationship between the private enterprises and the rural community are some of the measures that enhance participation of private enterprises in rural development in Anambra state. Finally, we recommend that: private enterprises should as a form of corporate social responsibilities, provide social amenities that will improve the living standards of the local people; there is need for sustained collaboration between government and the operators of private sector organizations by providing adequate incentive and the needed enabling environment to stimulate and foster the growth of the private sector organizations in Nigeria; rural populace should increase their efforts in patronizing the products and services of private enterprises in the rural area in order to encourage them to serve the rural people better and expand their ventures and bring development to the rural people.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Approval Page- ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study 1

2.2 Statement of the Problem 6

1.3 Objectives of the Study 7

1.4 Significance of the Study 8

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study 9

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Literature Review 10

2.1.1 Private Enterprises 10

2.1.1.1 Private Sector Organisations Performance in Nigeria 12

2.1.1.2 Characteristics of Private Enterprises 13

2.1.1.3 Problems of Private Enterprises 15

2.1.1.4 Prospects of Private Sector 18

2.1.2 Rural Development in Nigeria 19

2.1.2.1 Characteristics of a Rural Area 20

2.1.2.2 Principles of Rural Development 22

2.1.2.3 Problems Affecting Rural Development in Nigeria 23

2.1.2.4 Approaches to Rural Development 29

2.1.3 Gap in Literature 32

2.2 Theoretical Framework 33

2.3 Hypotheses 36

2.4 Operationalization of key concepts 36

CHAPTER THREE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE STUDY AREA

3.1 Research Procedure 38

3.1.1 Research Design 38

3.1.2 Population of the Study 38

3.1.3 Sample and Sampling Technique 38

3.1.4 Methods of Data Connection 39

3.1.5 Test of Validity and Reliability of Instrument 39

3.1.6 Method of Data Analysis 40

3.2 The Study Area 40

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Presentation and Analysis 52

4.2 Findings 65

4.3.1 Discussion 67

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary 70

5.2 Recommendations 71

5.3 Conclusion 72

Bibliography