UNIVERSITY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

 

Emanuel O. Amoo¹*, Shalom Chinedu², Ajibade Jegede³, Titilope Okuboyejo³, Uyi Eboigbodin Osadolor¹, Omonbhude Iyoriobhe¹, Ayodeji Ajayi⁴, Cynthia Offor², Jennifer O. Adeoye¹, Patience Tunji-Olayeni⁵ & Suzan Adeusi⁶

¹Dr., Demography and Social Statistics, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

²Biological Science Department, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

³Sociology Department, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

⁴Corporate Affairs Unit, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

⁵Building Department, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

⁶Psychology Department, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Emmanuel O. Amoo, e-mail: emma.amoo@covenantunviersity.edu.ng

 

 Abstract

The increasing pressure on both natural system and socials resources are often culminating in environmental and social epidemics with heavy burden of diseases, shortage of food, potable water and lack of meaningful livelihood among the vulnerable communities in developing countries. While these communities are always left to cope on their own and create subsistence from their marginal agricultural or pastoral lands, the intervention of numerous establishments or institutions that share close proximity with these communities through social responsibility could aid their sustenance. The study employed the theory of ethical social responsibility and responses from 16 in-depth interviews with purposively selected community leaders in two communities of Ogun State, Nigeria. The state has, among others, highest number of higher institutions in Nigeria (15 universities, 11 Polytechnics, and 5 Colleges, excluding other vocational studies studies), higher concentration of industrial estates in Nigeria but the poverty incidence is as high as 26.4% compared to other states in the same region. The data from the interview were analysed using systematic content analysis with thematic organisations of the summaries and typologies of the responses of the participants. The result shows the major coping strategies adopted by these communities as personal contributions and communal labour. The primary themes and sub-themes on participants’ experience on successful initiatives were mapped as University-Community Development Initiative Model (UCDIM). The model suggests that the university may help their host communities and the society in physical development by enhancing the maintenance of balance between the academic and alleviating the socio-ecological challenges faced by their host communities.

Keywords: Community development, coping strategies, university, initiative, framework, sustainable development, social responsibility model