MENS’ VS WOMENS’ CULTURAL GROUPS

A POWERFUL CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF SELF-HELP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN AWGU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the contribution of men s’ as well as women s’ cultural groups in Nigeria towards achieving sustainable national development. It is pertinent to note that that women as well as men are increasingly making impact in the area of sustainable development in various communities in Nigeria as it relates to selfhelp community development projects. Moreover, women are starting to assert themselves, challenging deep rooted patriarchal practices and beginning to negotiate new roles and opportunities towards sustainable developmentin Nigeria. The study adopted concurrent mixed method research design, using 370 respondents from town union associations and umu-ada associations from the five randomly selected communities in Awgulga of Enugu state. Data was collected with the use of questionnaire and in-depth interview and were analyzed using chi-square inferential statistics and
thematic content analysis. The study found that people who belong to cultural associations involve more in sustainability of self-help community development projects in their communities than people who do not. It was also revealed in the study that men involve more in sustainability of self-help community development projects than women. The study therefore recommends that cultural associations like town union associations, age grade associations and umu-Ada associations should be encouraged by the government to take up the lead once again in the initiation and execution of self-help programs, and effort should be made by government and communities to ignite competition among the cultural associations.