RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: OBJECTIVES, AGENTS, AND CHALLENGES

This work focused on rural development in Nigeria: objectives, agents, and challenges. The work was carried out to identify the major hindrances to development and the solution to the problems. The researcher used only secondary source of data as the research was descriptive in nature. It was found that the objectives of rural development include agricultural development, job creation, health care development, infrastructural development, improved local industries, and educational development. In addition, the major agents of rural development include community based organizations, nongovernmental organizations, community stakeholders and the governments. Also, lack of basic amenities, neglect/political marginalization, Inadequate community participation, Poor formulation and implementation of rural development policies, Inter/intra community conflicts, Lack of industrialization, corruption and poor economic programmes are the major challenges of rural development. The study concludes that the government can improve the standard of living in the rural communities through rural development. It was recommended that the rural community people should be involved in making and implementing rural development policies. Also, both federal, state and local governments should effectively implement rural development projects.