ABSTRACT

The study examined Assessment of Traditional Institutions’ Initiatives on Community Development in South-East, Nigeria. The study surveyed four traditional institutions engaged in core community development initiatives. The problem of the study focused on why the problems of traditional institutions’ initiatives should solve still persist inspite of their efforts to develop communities and improve the lives and livelihood of the people. Six research questions were posed with the intention to examine the extent infrastructural development, information dissemination, rural mobilization, disease eradication, peace and security and improved agricultural practices have developed communities in South-East, Nigeria. Six null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance and were used to guide the study. The design adopted in carrying out the research was descriptive survey and the instruments used were structured questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD) schedule. The population of the study was 5,536. The sample size of the study was 710 respondents made up of some traditional rulers, and executives of registered traditional institutions. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in the study. Firstly, purposive method of random sampling technique was used to select 10 Local Government Area. Secondly, purposive random sampling technique was also used to select five (5) communities to make a total of 50 communities and thirdly, balloting method of simple random sampling technique was also used to select 15 respondents. This gave a total of 750 respondents to which the questionnaire were administered.  Face validity of the instrument was established by three experts to ensure item adequacy, measurability and relevance of the instrument to the study. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was used to test the reliability of the instrument and a correlation coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. Mean and standard deviation were used in analyzing the data collected from the respondents. Criterion mean of 2.5 was used in judging responses as to whether they were positive or not. Five out of the six null hypotheses, tested at 0.05 level were not rejected. Findings of the study revealed infrastructural development, information dissemination, rural mobilization, peace and security initiatives by traditional institutions have to a great extent developed communities in the south-East, Nigeria, while, eradication of diseases and improved agricultural practices initiatives have to a low extent developed communities by traditional institutions in the South-East, Nigeria. The researcher, however, recommended among others that government should establish department of assets maintenance and repair to supervise and maintain community infrastructures to save cost of building new ones. Considering the dearth of extension workers, government in collaboration with tertiary institutions, especially department of adult education should train extension workers to train farmers on modern agricultural skills and practices to improve agriculture in South-East. Philanthropists, government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should sponsor agricultural, and health education programme especially on radio and television for improved agriculture and health practices for benefit of people and the community.