Community Development

This study examines intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897, with a focus on the political, economic, social, and cultural interactions among the various communities that inhabited the area prior to the establishment of British colonial rule. The research investigates the nature of relationships that existed among neighboring groups, the factors that promoted cooperation, and the sources of conflict and rivalry within the region. The study adopts a historical research methodology, utilizing both primary and secondary sources, including oral traditions, archival materials, historical records, and relevant scholarly literature.
Findings reveal that intergroup relations in Ekpoma were largely characterized by peaceful coexistence, trade, intermarriage, cultural exchanges, and mutual assistance among communities. Economic activities such as agriculture, local commerce, and craft production served as important avenues for interaction and cooperation. The study also identifies traditional institutions, kinship ties, festivals, and religious practices as significant factors that strengthened social cohesion and promoted harmonious relationships among different groups.
However, the research further shows that disputes over land ownership, political authority, resource control, and boundary issues occasionally led to conflicts between neighboring communities. Despite these challenges, indigenous conflict-resolution mechanisms, including the intervention of elders, traditional rulers, and community assemblies, played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability. The study concludes that intergroup relations in Ekpoma before 1897 were shaped by a dynamic combination of cooperation and competition, which contributed significantly to the social, economic, and political development of the area. Understanding these historical interactions provides valuable insight into the foundations of contemporary social relations and community development in Ekpoma.

This study was designed to investigate the assessment of the factors influencing the non-participation of women in community development programmes: A case study of Oredo local government area of Edo state. The sample for the study comprises of 75 women selected from government workers, teachers and traders in Oredo local government through simple random sampling procedure. The research design used for this study is the survey and the questionnaire was used for the collection of data. The analysis of the data lead to the following findings women don’t participate in community development programmes and that the level of their participation is at the lowest ebb, that husband and societal values is a hindrance to women participation, culture and religion also impede women’s participation, also education help to encourage women to participate in community development programmes. It was therefore recommended that community leaders should be those that could be trusted by the entire community, campaign for women participation should be made more effective through the use of local dialects, necessary mechanism should be put in place through which the women’s felt need can be met and more women should be involve in the planning and policy making in all aspect of our national life and development.

The study examined the correlates of community development and women empowerment in Ekosodin community, Edo states. The objective of the study was to determine the correlation that exists between community development and women empowerment in Ekosodin community; ascertain the empowerment initiatives available for women in Ekosodin community; ascertain the impact of governmental community activities in the empowerment of the women with community development in Ekosodin community and to ascertain the factors that may militate against women’s full empowerment and participation in community development processes in Ekosodin community. The cross sectional research design was adopted for this study. 381 copies of questionnaire were distributed to 381 respondents in respondents in Ekosodin community, Edo state. Data collected were analyzed using frequency count, percentages and mean, with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0. The empirical result revealed that women empowerment enables women in the community to control their economic and social aspect of life and that empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities. The study recommends that the women should be given the opportunity to be fully involved in the development planning process right from the grassroots or community to the national levels and that skill acquisition for women should be a recurring decimal for women in the communities.