PROF. FIDELIS OSINACHI OKPATA (Ph.D.) POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
ALEX EKWUEME FEDERAL UNIVERSITY NDUFU-ALIKE, IKWO AND
MICHAEL NWAKAMA
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT,
EBONYI STATE UNIVERSITY, ABAKALIKI.
Abstract.
The paper is titled “Re-engineering sustainable rural economy through social infrastructure development in Nigeria” The objective of the study was to establish the nexus between social infrastructure like basic education, health care facilities, provision of clean source of drinking water, housing, poverty reduction, human capital development etc. and sustainable rural economy. Relevant literature was reviewed to link the study with the existing views on related topics. The paper adopted the people centered approach propounded by Korten (1984) as a framework of the work. The key element of the approach is provision of infrastructure through (a) the empowerment of the people (b) participation and (c) sustainability among others. The choice of the approach was based on the fact that the components of people centered approach are vital factors for sustainable in the rural economy. The researchers found that poor condition of life in the rural areas is as a result of inadequate provision of social infrastructural facilities and therefore recommended a total overhaul of government approach to developmental Participatory approach should be adopted. Government should improve access to education, healthcare facilities, quality road network in the rural areas. To improve the economy of the rural people and make it sustainable, they must participate in taken developmental decisions that affect their life as development is a learning process.
Keywords: Development, Sustainable development, Infrastructure and Social infrastructure.
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