RURAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION: LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES IN FOUR SELECTED STATES OF THE NIGER DELTA

The study examined participatory leadership and rural transformation in four selected States in the Niger Delta region. The main objective of the study is to examine how participatory leadership can bring about rural transformation in four selected States in the Niger Delta region. Three research questions were formulated in line with the objectives. The study employed a survey research method, using quantitative and qualitative designs for the collection of data and analysis. Eight thousand (8,000) respondents from the sixteen (16) selected local government areas in Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Delta State, and Akwa Ibom State as the sample size. Structured questionnaires were distributed to the eight thousand (8,000) respondents; however, seven thousand nine hundred and eighty (7,980) copies were retrieved for data analysis. Four-point Likert scale for structured research questionnaires using arithmetic mean for data analysis. The findings revealed that lack of social amenities for the development of the rural areas; lack of modern health facilities in the rural areas thereby increasing the high rate of mortality amongst others are the challenges facing rural transformation in the Niger Delta region. In this light, the research work recommended amongst others that government and non-governmental organization should provide infrastructural development in the rural areas; this will increase employment, youth empowerment, and self-reliance amongst the people that will cushion rural-urban migration and youth restiveness. Rural community development should be based on a bottom-top approach that would give rural dwellers through their community to identify and present their felt needs to the government and non-governmental organization before the execution of any project for sustainability