CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1          Background to the Study

Rural Development has been the concern of many developing countries for a long time

because there have been heavy dependence of the urban centres on the rural sectors (Nwosu,

1981). The growth of the National economy and its inherent strength are therefore, dependent

on the performance of the rural sectors. He further stated that the Nigerian Economy had once

performed well under the agricultural sector which is predominantly peasant;meaning their

involvement and integration in the development process is important for the development of

the entire nation.

Moreso,overwhelming majority of the people in the underdeveloped countries live and

find their livelihood in the rural areas (Tsebee, 2014). Thus, out of the total estimated population

of about 140 million people in Nigeria (NPC, 2006), the World Bank Report (2010) puts about

79,524,370 representing about 60% of the population residing in rural areas. A considerable

proportion of the national income is also derived from rural areas as a result of direct economic

activities of the rural populace. The contribution this rural majority has been making to the

economy of the developing nations is too enormous to be n