Youth Participation in Community Development (CD) Programmes in Cross River State: Implications for Sustainable Youth Development in Nigeria.

Abstract

Community Development anywhere in the world is facilitated by the extent to which the local people can mobilize their resources to address local needs. The role of the youths to fast-track Community Development Programmes has been recognized, particularly, in local communities where they have played pivotal role in education, health, environmental sanitation, mass mobilization, religious activities etc. This study poses that through active participation and encouragement; youths can be effective instrument for CD programmes and may take ownership as well. With field-based data from Cross River State, South-South Nigeria, the study examines the extent and strategies to which the youth can be meaningfully engaged in CD programmes and presents an evaluation of the challenges facing them in that direction. Recommendations for Sustainable Development via youth participation are made at the end of the study.