Influence of Leadership Styles on Community Development Programmes’ Implementation in Rural Communities of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Abstract

Community development is a process whereby the efforts of individuals in the community were combined with efforts of government and  non-government bodies to improve and develop the community socially and economically. The study adopted descriptive survey research of the ex post facto type. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select the state while stratified random sampling technique was used to select the local governments used for the study. Stratified random sampling  technique was used to stratify the local government selected into stratum, simple random sampling technique was used to select the 179  respondents. The (CLPS) inventory (r=0.84) and Community Members Assessment of Leaders Scale (CMALS) r= 0.81were used. Two hypotheses were answered and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using descriptive and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. The result of the influence of Leadership Styles on Community Development  Programmes Implementation in Rural Communities. Democratic  Leadership Style (r = .621, N=179, P < .01). Autocratic leadership style (r = .360, N=179, P < .01). There is the need for proper dissemination of information from the rulers to the followers, through documentation and dissemination of information, the followers can share the best practices and learn from each other.

Key words: Leadership styles, laissez faire, community development,
communication, participation.