Community Participation in Development- Oriented Projects Implementation in Edo South Senatorial District

This study was carried out to investigate community participation in development projects implementation in Edo South Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose intended, nine research questions were raised, while four were hypothesized and tested @ 0.05 level of significance. The study made use of the sequential explanatory mixed method of research which included qualitative and quantitative designs with a population comprising all the people living in the seven (7) local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District from which a total of Four Hundred and Fifty (450) respondents were selected from nine communities from the chosen three local government area where development projects execution have been carried out and more pronounced in the last three (3) years. Also, fifty (50) participants were selected from the sample size for the Focus Group Discussion. A self-constructed close-ended questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) instrument for data collection was used for the study. The instruments were validated by three experts in Community Development and Measurement and Evaluation. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation Statistics was used to determine the reliability of the instrument (questionnaire) and the approach yielded a reliability index of .86, while the instrument (Focus Group Discussion) was triangulated. Data obtained from the study were analysed using frequency count, percentages, mean score, standard deviation, Spearman rank order and simple linear regression. Findings from the study revealed, amongst others, that the various community development projects undertaken or embarked upon in Edo South Senatorial District include; renovation of schools, construction of town hall, construction of modern markets, provision of borehole facility, rehabilitation of access roads/paths, provision of skills acquisition centre and health centre. Also, it was revealed that the extent of people’s participation in the planning and implementation process of development projects in Edo South Senatorial District is low. From the findings of the study, recommendations were proffered which among others include that, the community needs to be involved in all project phases. Engaging community members throughout the project cycle can help to increase trust of community members towards those directly involved in the project.