Abstract

This paper assessed the doctrine of citizens’ participation in the organization and implementation of community development projects through self-help in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area, Oyo State of Nigeria. The study helped to determine factors that motivates citizens’ participation in community development through self-help projects and explain the contribution of citizens to community development through self-help projects. It also examined the extent to which citizens are involved in self-help projects.lt highlights the factors that motivate citizens to participate in organisation and community development. A descriptive research design and self designed questionnaire was used in collecting data from a sample of 400 respondents for the study. Data collected were analysed using Chi-square. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between citizens’ participation in community development through self-help projects(X2cal= 121.162  is greater than X2crit= 8.543 at 0.05 significant). The findings also revealed that there is significant relationship between citizens’ derived benefits and their participation in community development through self-help projects (X2cal=149.122 is greater than  X2crit= 8.543 at 0.05 significant). It is therefore, recommended that citizens need to be involved in every stage of the life-cycle of a project so as to ensure utilization, sustainability and benefit derivation. Beside, the development agents should find out the felt-needs of the community before embarking on them.