Youth Participation in Community Development Projects in Rural Communities of Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract This study sought to investigate barriers to active youth participation in community development projects in rural communities of Delta State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for this study. The multistage sampling technique, consisting of simple random, purposive, systematic methods, was utilised. The sample size for the study was 320. The primary data for the study were collected from a structured questionnaire, which was pre-tested in a community that was not included in the study for consistency and reliability. School, farms, town halls, markets, borehole water, roads/paths, skill acquisition, and health centres were the community development projects executed in the study communities. The level of youth participation in the projects’ development process was low as a result of inadequate inclusion of youth in the projects’ selection, partisan politics, low education, inadequate information, inadequate funding, and relegation of youth’s ideas. The study established that the males are more significantly involved in community development projects than female members. The need for professionalisation of social work and its inclusion in development efforts in Nigeria, amongst others were proffered. Key words: Development projects; Nigeria; Participation; Rural communities; Youth