Influence Of Interpersonal Communication On Community Development

For the past decades, many development have been initiated in communities with the objective of bringing development to the doorstep of these communities. However most of these development are in deplorable state whilst others have even been abandoned. This suggests that the development are not sustained to achieve their intended lifespan as various development are concerned about how to sustain their development . There are other factors that can ensure a development "s sustenance in a community but this study focused on the role interpersonal communication plays in sustaining these development development . Based on the development interpersonal communication theory, the study sought to determine the of interpersonal communication used by development partners to involve communities in their own development and the changes the development bring to the lives of the people in the Obot Akara/through the use of communication.

Using four purposively selected communities in the Obot Akara/Sekyedumase Municipality, a cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. Variables relevant to the study were identified and explained through a thorough literature review after which the methodology to solicit the necessary data and information to address the research questions was determined. Both systematic and purposive sampling techniques were used for the study. Primary data obtained from the field were analysed.

The study revealed that though development partners communicated to communities on some of the development , the components of development interpersonal communication was not wholly employed. The development that employed interpersonal communication among other things have been sustained whilst the ones with little or no interpersonal communication are in deplorable state. The study also revealed that interpersonal communication was the most common means of interpersonal communication used by development partners to contact communities and this helped in bringing social change to the lives of the people in the Obot Akara/Sekyedumase Municipality.

The study established that both development implementers and communities face challenges in sustaining development development . However, development implementers did not adopt the three components of development interpersonal communication thus; advocacy, social mobilization and behaviour change interpersonal communication to contact their target beneficiaries.

It is therefore recommended that development partners and should develop a interpersonal communication strategy for their development whilst focusing on sustenance of the development .

1.0 Introduction

It is worthy of note that communication is a basic ingredient in human society since it is seen as an exchange ideas and meaning. These are all important phenomena that could take different forms: these include symbolic signs, gestures and language.

Through communication, an individual is able to structure and organize his environment, besides it is an interaction process through which persons or group of people related to each other can share information experience and culture. Jaraweera (1991:17).

Communication messages can only be understood through interpretation of contents on basis of norm, idea, attitudes, value and behavioural pattern prevailing environment of the audience.

Whatever society, citizens are not resident in the same such societies, therefore, it is necessary to communicate interpersonally with each other within and outside the community for community development.

Interpersonal communication is a form of communication that involves face to face basis. It is through interpersonal communication that one shares experience. It is the exchange of ideas and information between two people. Interpersonal communication also occurs between you and your communication you and your community members. In this case you do not keep your ideas to yourself, you share them with someone else, and it could be by telephone or face to face.

Community development has more to do with working together in other to achieve a greater result without stress or suffering it is expected of every member of a community to co-operate with each other to bring out a great result at the end of the day, any good community will do everything to attain a greater height in the course of it growth.

This serves as a strategies tools which provides an in-depth analysis community structure, staffing level, business processes and resulting levels of development and services, it also help in knowing the inner minds of the people working in the community.

Through interpersonal communication such people relay to the original media message as well as their interpretation, and information therefore, study sought to find out the influence of interpersonal communication in Obot Akara Local Government Area, find out how this will help in making the community a plat form for peaceful existence among workers and villagers.

Interpersonal communication dominates our activities at home, school, church and communities, market place and almost everywhere. This type of communication usually begins with intrapersonal communication because you have to really know yourself, thinking of what to tell your community or how to discuss with friends, the ability to communicate with others and make meaning. Intrapersonal communication is the communication that goes within or inside an individual; it is the basis of all other forms of human communication. It is the exchange of message between the brain and the sense organ of the body. It is the starting and the end point of all communication.

We shop easily through interpersonal communication; marriage is also making possible through this type of communication because we get to understand each other through face to face communication.

Interpersonal communication involve action from another person, life would have not been so nice if communication started and ended with intrapersonal but with interpersonal communication which has really help us to share experience with one another.

1.1 Background of the Study

Obot Akara is located in the South East of Nigeria and is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. It was created in 1996 yearnings for more state and Local Government during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Thus, on December 4, 1996, in the nationwide broadcast, the late Gen. Sani Abacha then head of state and commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic announced to an anxious nation, the creation of six (6) new states and additional One Hundred and Eighty three (183) Local Governments. Thus the birth Obot Akara Local Government Area comprising of

Ikot Abia

Nto Edino

Obot Akara Clans

Without prejudice, it would not be wrong to say that Obot Akara Local Government was created out of the former Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. Obot Akara share boundaries with Essien Udim, Ikono, Ini, Ikot Ekpene and Ikwuano and Isialangwa Local Government Area in Abia State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Community development is often aimed at gathering people of different background to work in other to arrive at a common objective. In every community there is great need for effective form of communication to mobilize the people. In almost all communities in Obot Akara Local Government, it is observed that apart from radio messages which are not effective and adequate, no other prominent form of communication to sensitize the people other than interpersonal means of communication such as opinion leaders and community leaders.

It is on this premise that this study becomes highly necessary in order to find out the effectiveness of interpersonal communication in community development of Obot Akara Local Government Area.

1.3 Research Questions

How does interpersonal communication influence development sustenance?

What are the trends in interpersonal communication used by community leaders during development activities in the Obot Akara local government area.

How does interpersonal communication help to promote development in bringing about change to the lives of people?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

As highlighted in the foregoing sections, interpersonal communication can be a key tool that can enhance community participation in decision-making concerning their own well- being. This study therefore focuses on the following objectives;

To identify how interpersonal communication influences development sustenance using Obot Akara in Nigeria as a case study.

To identify the interpersonal communication used by community leaders during development implementation in Obot Akara.

To identify how interpersonal communication can promote development to help bring change in the lives of the people of Obot Akara.

1.5 Justification of Study

Rural people have lived together over the years and do things in common such as eating and sleeping together, going to the farms together, helping themselves when it comes to farming (Olukotun, 2008) which is popularly termed as "Ndoboa" in the Akan communities among hosts of other things. The way their houses are even built gives room for consultation and sharing of ideas. Common things like roads, schools, health centres and bridges which are all constructed through communal labour and personal contributions are shared in rural communities. Having lived together all their lives and having shared ideas for a long period of time, it feels odd, if not unacceptable to some of them when they get to know of development in their communities and have no idea about either its conception or implementation (Komalawati, 2008). The development are therefore hardly accepted by the communities as their own and such development in most cases suffer abandonment, limited usage or at best poor maintenance (Olukotun,2008).

This topic was based on the concern that most development such as boreholes, schools, warehouses, public toilets and several others that are not operational and are poorly maintained by some communities in Nigeria especially after the donors have left. Examples of such communities are Kasei, Samari Nkwanta, Bisiw, Obot akara, Ebuom and Nkwanta all in the Obot Akarain the Akwaibom State of Nigeria. Obot Akara/serves as a good example for this study because of the numerous development like rural electrification, silos, boreholes, stand pipes and many others which were implemented to solve one problem or the other.

The study which is exploratory in nature ascertains why some of these development survived and others failed within the same area and the role interpersonal communication played in each case. The study therefore established the importance of interpersonal communication in sustaining development that are intended to develop communities. The findings of the study are to help development implementers to appreciate the need to communicate to development beneficiaries before, during and after implementing development . The study has also added to knowledge. It is to again inform development implementers on the importance of choosing the right interpersonal communication to reach their target beneficiaries in times of implementing development .

1.6 Scope of the Study

interpersonal communication is more than transmitting information. It entails advocacy, social mobilization and behaviour change. Mefalopulos, (2008) stated that it is about generating new knowledge and consensus in order to facilitate change. interpersonal communication is not only about raising awareness, informing, persuading, or changing behavior. It is also about listening, exploring, understanding, empowering, and building consensus for change. This study focused on how interpersonal communication can be used to ensure a development "s sustenance. It again focused on sponsored development and programmes in some communities in the Obot Akara/located in the Akwaibom State of Nigeria.

1.7 Organization of the study

This study was divided into five chapters.

Chapter One introduced the research topic, its scope and the statement of the problem. It also shed light on the justification and objectives of the research.

Chapter Two outlined what interpersonal communication for development is and how it related to community participation. It also presented a review on the shared thoughts and the work or theories of researchers on the topic.

Chapter Three described the methodology used. It basically presented the research philosophical framework that was developed base on literature to answer the research questions.

Chapter Four also presented the empirical data gathered via interview, questionnaires, observations, documentation review and some elicitations and their analysis based on some theoretical framework.

Chapter Five finalized and concluded the research by describing the most notable conclusions, suggestions and areas to be researched on in the future on how interpersonal communication can ensure a development "s sustainability.

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