Exploring Appreciative Inquiry Approach for Community Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Community development has been declared a priority by the successive governments in Nigeria, be it civilian or military. In this regard, several organizations, institutions and agencies have been set up to undertake and monitor community development in Nigeria. However in view of the above there is no anything to write home about despite all the efforts and different approaches adopted. The paper explored appreciative Inquiry approach for community development in Nigeria. An overview of Appreciative Inquiry was highlighted and the core principles and assumptions were also discussed which include constructivist principle, principle of simultaneity. The paper enumerated the process of Appreciative inquiry which involves the 4 Ds (discovery, dream, design, and destiny). Community development was also defined in the context of the paper and went ahead to discussed appreciative inquiry and community development in Nigeria. Challenges were also highlighted which include among others lack of awareness, dependency, partisan politics, bad community leadership. Finally the paper recommends amongst others Town hall meetings should be regularly organized so that members will educated and mobilized,In collaboration of the community leadership groups should be formed in the community, avoid partisan politics in community affairs, Adult literacy class should be organized for members of the community who can not read and write.