THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

THE ROLE OF NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

(A CASE STUDY OF NGOR – OKPALA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     INTRODUCTION
Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) are civil organizations that are largely or totally independent ofgovernment and which function as charitable or religious associations, mobilize private funds for development initiatives and programmes, raise awareness and influence policies in pursuance of the idealsof democracy and good governance as well as undertake diverse humanitarian projects that could better thelots of the grass-roots (Sandberg, 1994; Chalmer, 2002).

Iriye (2004) defines Non-Governmental Organizations as a voluntary, non-state, non-profit, nonreligious,and non-military associations. It is an independent voluntary association of people acting togetheron a continuous basis for some common purpose other than achieving government office, making money orillegal activities. In his view, two main types of Non-Governmental Organizations are recognized according tothe activities they pursue:

• operational NGOs that deliver services; and
• Campaigning NGOs.

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legalpersons that operates independently from any form of government. The term originated from the UnitedNations (UN) in 1945 and is normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of a government andAre not conventional profit businesses. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially bygovernments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives fromits membership.

Michael and David (1992), see non-governmental organizations as an organization that is not part of agovernment and was not founded by states. They maintained that NGOs are typically independent ofgovernment. The term is usually restricted to social, cultural, legal and environmental advocacy groupshaving goals that are non-commercial. They are usually non-profit organizations that gain at least a portion oftheir funding from private services. The World Bank (1990), sees Non-governmental organizations as privateagencies; indigenous groups organized regionally or nationally and member groups in villages that supportinternational and national development and partnering with governments in global development initiatives.

Non-Governmental organizations are classified by orientation and/or level of co-operation. NGOs byorientation include charitable orientation, service orientation, participatory, professional association, andempowering orientation. While NGO type by level of co-operation comprises of community-basedorganization, city wide organization, national NGO, and international non-governmental organizations.

1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

A common task facing developing and under – developed nations today, including Nigeria, is the development of rural area.   Development of the rural areas or communities means an improvement or advancement in the socio-economic, political and cultural life style of people.  In most rural comities including Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, there is insignificant provision of basic human needs like Hospitals, pipe-borne water, tarred and motorable roads, schools etc, by government.  This attitude on the part of government creates an impression in the minds of people that they are not part of the body politics.

          Consequently, the people rely on what they can afford to fend for themselves.  It is this quest for self-reliance that leads to initiation of community development project of community development projects by non-governmental organizations.

          The problem of non-development of rural areas spreads across all states of Nigeria but in more pronounced in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area – which is my area of study.  In this community there is object neglect of provision of these facilities by government.  Developmental activities are borne by non-governmental organizations like Town Unions, Churches, Age Grades, Social Clubs etc with little or no contributions from government.

          This study will attempt at identifying the nature and scope of developmental projects undertaken by non-governmental organizations in Nogr-Okpala Local Government Area.

          It will also find out what kind of problems that confront these non-Governmental organizations in it’s quest to improve the life of Ngor-Okpala Citizens.

1.3     AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY

This project is aimed at analysing the contributions of non-governmental organizations towards the development of Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

It will try to examine some of their experiences while undertaking these developmental endeavours in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The essence of this study is to draw the attention of the Local State and Federals Government.

          This research  draws the attention of government to the need for stepping up their matching grants as well as provision of human and material assistance to communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area who are embarking on one developmental project or the other.

          Through this research, communities in Ngor-Okpala local Government Area will realize once again that government own her a duty to assist he in her developmental efforts and there by which government will be made up to perform her own part of the obligation.

          Finally, this research  will aid students towards making  further research in this area as well as serve as an invaluable source of information on Ngor-Okpala Community.

1.5 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

ROLE – persons task or duty in an undertaking NON-GOVERNMENTAL – Any group set up, that is outside direct government control or involvement.

ORGANISATION:- They are social and technical devices or instrument that help in the accomplishment of goals that are too large and complex to be handled by one person.

COMMUNITY -  A territorially bounded social system within which people live in  harmony, love, intimacy and share common social, economic and cultural characteristics.

DEVELOPMENT – A continuous process of positive change in the quality and span of life of a person or group of persons.

GOVERNMENT- An authoritative unit of the state which has the sole function of achieveing the ends of the state- provision of welfare services, maintenance of law and order and establishing and maintaining of relations with similar units in other state.

1.6 HYPOTHESIS

I have out lined the following hypothesis to serve as a guide to our thought throughout this research.

1. Activities of non-governmental organizations promote community
   Development in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.
2. Inadequate financial resources limits the activities of non-governmental
   organisations in community development in Ngor-Okpala Local
   Government Area.
3. Insufficient human resources hampers the efforts of non-governmental
   organisations to contribute to community development in Ngor- Okpala
   Local Government Area.
4. Group conflicts undermine the ability of non-governmental Organisations
   to effect Local Government Area.

1.7 METHODOLOGY

Data for this research was generated from the following sources.

1. Primary Sources-

  Interview: I interview indigenes of the communities in Ngor – Okpala Local Government Area where some developmental projects have been completed and? Or in progress.

1. also interviewed officials at Ngor-Okpala local Government Area headquarters.
2. Secondary Sources-

Publications- Journals, Books, Newspapers, Magazines.

1.8 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

In organizing this research, my theoretical framework of analysis draws from David Easton’s systems model.

          David Eastons’s analysis of political system emphasizes input, demand and supply, and the conversion process by which authorities deal with these inputs, the outputs that result and the feedback mechanisms that adjust outputs to inputs.

          Easton looks at the way this system exists in the face of stress arising from within the system.  Since the environment is affected by the administrative processed, it feedbacks new stimuli which affects the agency. Then the agency starts reaching to the environmental changes.

          In environment, inputs, theory emphasizes on the environment, inputs, conversion, output and feedback.  All  these components have relationship and can only be quantified in relation to inputs and outputs.

          For to purpose of this study, these concepts will relate as follows:

1. ENVIRONMENT: The environment here (external internal) means

NgorOkpala Community, Ngor- Okpala local Government Authorities

      and  Imo State Government with socio-economic ties.

2. INPUTS: The inputs in this senses relates to human material resources

     and financial needs, etc. emanating from the environment.

3. CONVERSION PROCESS: The conversion process refers to all

      agents development in the community non-governmental Organisations

      leaders in the community and all those with positive disposition in the

      conversion process within the community.

4. OUTPUTS: The reactions from the conversion process gives birth to

     to outputs which manifests on the form of development projects and

     their execution .

5. FEEDBACK: This has to do with the degree of response to input-output

     relationship which leads either in support of the system or it’s rejection in

     the environment.