The Impact of Participatory Communication in Community Development: A Study of Abandoned Project in Urugbam Community

Abstract

This study tried to assess the extent to which participatory communication can enhance community development in Urugbam community. The study adopted John Greene’s Action Assembly Theory developed in 1984. Action Assembly Theory attempts to explain how people formulate meanings and produce verbal and nonverbal behaviours that bear some relationship to those meanings by describing how the mind carries out these activities. The researcher applied descriptive research methodology through the use of focus group discussion. The total population of the Urugbam community including men and women is 3010, but a purposive sampling technique was applied to select 7 participants that form the focus group discussion from five compounds with a total of thirty-five (35) participants. A qualitative method of data analysis was applied to descriptively present data in words. Findings indicate that government initiated borehole water project in Urugbam community has been abandoned because the project was reportedly initiated without the involvement of the community members or stakeholders. The research recommendas that government and educational boards should endeavour to involve community stakeholders in an interaction before implementing projects so that such projects can be sustainable and be useful to the entire community members. This research also recommends that the case of community development should be addressed thoroughly by individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations through any means necessary especially through interaction with stakeholders.