Self-Help as a Panacea for Rural Infrastructural Provision in Kaiama Local Government, Kwara State, Nigeria

Community participatory rural development is often seen as panacea for sustainable growth of rural area. Monitored project evaluation in Kaiama Local Government of Kwara state of Nigeria has offered much opportunity to examine community participatory procedures and effects among rural communities. About 10% of the rural household heads were randomly interviewed on their experiences in community development. The study shows that an average rural resident is aware of development in their area and the system of self- help has helped to uncover practical development plans and encouraged local participation of rural communities. Majority of the respondents participated in a community project or the other, and contributed financially in the past five years. Despite these, societal problems are still not completely solved as rural residents still yearn for government support for the improvement of infrastructural development in the study area. Keywords: Self-help, Participation, Infrastructural Provision