NEEDS OF THE RURAL DWELLERS IN NIGERIA: INFORMATION SERVICES




Needs of Rural Dwellers
The diverse nature of rural communities indicates that their information needs are many and multidimensional. It is very important to determine the totality of their information needs. In Nigeria, there is no comprehensive document on the information needs of rural inhabitants. This is a case of neglect. Attempts have been made to explore the needs of individual rural communities for the purpose of research. Alegbeleye and Aina (1985: 13) have quoted Ogunsheye who provided information needs categories of Nigerian rural communities, which include:
  • The neighborhood: information needs in the neighborhood include problems of water supply, electricity supply, Environmental sanitation, refuse disposal, road maintenance and drought.
  • Health information on how individuals can, prevent different diseases that affect them, and awareness of available healthcare delivery and what it costs.
  • Agriculture and allied occupations: the greatest area of information needs by rural Nigerians is in agriculture. Such information needs include planting treated seeds, soil conservation, prevention of plants and animal disease, fertilizer application, farm machineries, recommended thinning practices, proper storage of farm products, marketing techniques, cooperative activities and other agro-cultural activities.
  • Education: information needs of the existing rural schools, needs of the illiterate's and semi-illiterates. They need to have relevant information that will develop in their interest and support of teaching and learning processes.
  • Housing: rural public need information about where they can obtain loans to build houses and the type of materials to be used and where they can be easily obtained.
  • Employment: rural communities need information on employment opportunities on taxation, investment opportunities, banking and other financial activities.
  • Transportation: they need information on the cost of bicycles, motorcycles and vehicles and where to obtain them. They need information about road construction and maintenance.
  • Religion, Recreation and Culture: information is required on religions, recreations and Cultural activities.
  • Welfare and Family matters: information is required on problems of marriage, childcare, juvenile delinquency etc.
  • Legal matters: information is needed on laws that affect the rural dwellers. Such law ranges from marriage to land.
  • Crime and Safety: Information is required on how to prevent crimes, report crimes, role of the law enforcement agents etc.
  • Policies and Government: information is needed on political rights of the people and how they can exercise such right.
  • Land: information is needed on land tenure systems, acquisition and transfer of land etc.
Information is needed by rural inhabitants in almost all human endeavors. As listed above development and transformation can only be possible, effective and relevant when information needs of the rural dwellers 
(CONTINUE)
 http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/harande.htm

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