Rural-urban interactions and rural dwellers’ participation in community-based projects in Edo and Ondo States, Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigerian government has intervened in improving the conditions of the rural areas in Nigeria in various ways, but the desired improvement in the infrastructural condition of most of these areas seems to be a mirage. This study examines the effects of rural-urban interactions on rural dwellers’ participation in community-based projects in Edo and Ondo States, Nigeria. The quantitative method of data collection through a structured, validated and reliable interview schedule was used to elicit information from 300 respondents across the two states. Focus Group Discussion was also conducted. Findings from the study revealed that the community-based projects mostly provided in the study area based on rural-urban interactions were the donation of books to schools (96%) and the building of classrooms in community schools (84%). More than half (61.7%) of the respondents indicated a high level of participation in the projects based on rural-urban interactions. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship exists between each type of project; educational projects (r = 0.500, p = 0.000) and respondents’ level of participation in community-based projects. The study concludes that the respondents’ rural-urban interactions are favourable to their participation in community-based projects. Therefore, the study recommended that the favourable perception of rural-urban interactions should be leveraged to promote the provision of community-based projects in other communities of Nigeria.