NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS

Abstract

The roles of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the development of nations especially the developing ones are progressively becoming significant. Significant in the sense that NGOs have realized that the most important resources of a nation are the people and that the ultimate goal of any nation’s development should be an improvement in the general giving standards of the people, hi this study, related literatures were reviewed to assess the views of experts and authorities in the definitions, roles and functions of NGOs in the development of Nigeria. In addition, the study examined the concept of national development vis-a-vis that of NGOs. Also reviewed were the activities and contribution of these selected NGOs in Imo State, they are Better Life Programme (BLP), the National Council of Women's Societies of Nigeria (NCWSN) and League of Democratic Women (Leads Nigeria). Respondents were interviewed and questionnaires were given to them. The respondents were from the NGOs selected from within the area of study. In the analysis of data collected, it became glaring that NGOs were contributing significantly to the development of the country. It was in view of the findings that certain recommendations were made by the researcher, which if considered would improve the states of these organizations in both their efficiency and impact.