Rural Communities in Nigeria: Issues of Conceptualizations and Perceptions
Iheanyi, E. Nwosu (Ph.D)
Department of Rural Sociology & Extension
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
E-mail: nwosu.iheanye@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Essentially, the paper is a contribution to the various discourse, sometimes erroneous presentations, on rural communities in the developing world generally and the Nigerian society in particular. It aims at presenting a balanced view of rural communities, beyond the seemingly popular but misleading assumptions and misconceptions that had earlier been propagated against the rural people and their environment. The research methodology relies on secondary sources of information and data collection. The paper examines some existing conceptions, perception and features of rural communities. It appraises and also criticizes earlier theoretical assumptions and perceptions of rural people and rural life. The paper argues that the rural communities and rural people are not as backward and unimaginative as they have been portrayed. It therefore calls for a paradigm shift in the current theoretical expositions, conceptualizations, perceptions and assumptions about rural communities and rural and rural dwellers.
Keywords: Rural Communities, Conceptualization and Perceptions
