CHAPTER 1: Introduction
According to Eme et al, (2012) town unions represent an
association formed by the people of the same town, local government or even
district as the case may be. Town Union can also be
seen as an agency of community through which innovations and development
purposes are achieved for the community. Society and cultures are dynamic
therefore social institutions grow with the society. The Town Union has
continued to grow with the Igbo society and has acquired new names like central
unions, group unions, progressive association, development union and Town
Union. Thus, in developing Igbo society the Town Union has assumed the status
of civil society organization with improved administrative structures. Apart
from undertaking several development and infrastructural projects, it has
continued to serve as the organ for local administration in Igbo land.
1.1
Background of the Study
The rural areas are characterized by pervasive endemic poverty,
made manifest by widespread hunger, malnutrition, poor health, general lack of
access of formal education, modern housing and various forms of social and
political solution compared with their urban counterparts. Thirdly, it is being
recognized that the problems of our urban centres cannot be solved unless those
of the rural areas are solved, or at least contained. Hence these problems
emanated from the unprecedented rural –urban migration which in turn derives from
rural area underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment (Akpomuvie 2010).
Similarly Ekekpe and Ekpe (2009) noted with pity the conditions of
our rural areas when they averred that whether you are in the Northern part of
the country or in the southern part, you will be struck by the very level of
abject poverty, mass illiteracy, unsanitized environment lack of clean water
supply, lack of access roads, unavailability of health care facilities,
improper and inadequate housing poor lighting particularly at night,
defeatist/fatalist attitude, small land parcel ownership, out-modeled ineffective
farming implement etc. these conditions cannot be ameliorated by government
alone.
The importance of the community development in contemporary
Nigerian society cannot be overemphasized as much as it cannot be relegated to
the background as its significance stems from its recognized role in the
process of achieving the improvement of economic, social, political and
cultural conditions of the communities. As a strategy, community development
ensures rapid national development hence Ugwu’s (2009:4) assertion “community development
is one of the major planks upon which National developmental policies and their
implementation are hinged”. The research seeks to investigate town union as
agent of community development in Anambra state.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
The ultimate goal of development is to
improve the well-being of people by identifying and solving the basic problems
that can hinder community development. It is also axiomatic that one of the
problems facing Nigeria and indeed other African nations in the post-colonial era
is that of improving the living condition of her people. This is even more in
the rural population for according to Eme et al (2012). The very level of
abject poverty, mass illiteracy, unsanitized environment lack of clean water
supply, lack of access roads, unavailability of health care facilities,
improper and inadequate housing poor lighting particularly at night,
defeatist/fatalist attitude, small land parcel ownership, out-modeled
ineffective farming implement etc. Cannot
be ameliorated by government alone. The importance of the community development
in contemporary Nigerian society cannot be overemphasized as much as it cannot
be relegated to the background as its significance stems from its recognized
role in the process of achieving the improvement of economic, social, political
and cultural conditions of the communities. As a strategy, community
development ensures rapid national development hence Ugwu’s (2009:4) asserted
that “community development is one of the major planks upon which National
developmental policies and their implementation are hinged”. Therefore the
problem confronting this research is to appraise town union as agent of community
development in Anambra state.
1.3
Objective of the Study
1 To determine the nature of town union
2 To determine the role of town union
as agent of community development.
3 To determine the role of town union
as agent of community development in Anambra state.
1.4
Research Questions
1 .4 RESEARCH QUESTION
1 What is the nature of town union?
2 What is the role of town union as
agent of community development
3 What is the role of town union as
agent of community development in Anambra state
3.1
Significance of the Study
The
study proffers a structural appraisal of the nature and role of town union in
community development with the view of enhancing the development of policy for
the recognition and growth of town union activities in the nation.
3.2
Statement of Hypothesis
1 Ho community development in Anambra
state is low
Hi community development in Anambra state is high
2 Ho Town union in Anambra state is not
significant
Hi Town union in Anambra state is significant
3 Ho The
impact of town union in community development in Anambra state is low
Hi The impact of town union in community
development in Anambra state is high.
1.7
Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the appraisal of town
union as agent of community development in Anambra state.
1.8
Definition of Terms
TOWN UNION DEFINED
According to Eme et al, (2012)
town unions represent an association formed by the people of the same town,
local government or even district as the case may be. Town Union can also be
seen as an agency of community through which innovations and development
purposes are achieved for the community.
DEVELOPMENT DEFINED
Development involves change, improvement and vitality, a directed
attempt to improve participation, flexibility, equity, attitudes, the function
of institution and the quality of life. It is the creation of wealth – wealth here
means the things people value.
FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT DEFINED
Wikipedia encyclopedia (2003) described
financial mismanagement as an inefficient management of money (fund) in such a
way that it hampers the achievement of goals. This therefore means that
financial mismanagement is a careless attitude towards the use of money (fund)
FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT DEFINED
Ezeani (2006:346) defined financial
management as part of management which is concerned mainly with raising funds
in the most economic and suitable manner, using these funds as profitably, (for
a given risk level) as possibly; planning future operations; and controlling
current performance and future development through financial accounting, cost
accounting, budgeting, statistical analysis and other means.