FACTORS INFLUENCING ROLE PERFORMANCE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

The study investigated crucial factors influencing role performance of community leaders in rural
development activities (RDAs) in Southwestern Nigeria. A multi‑stage sampling procedure was used to
select the respondents. Primary data were collected from 352 respondents using structure interview
schedule while key informants were subjected to in‑depth interview. Appropriate descriptive
statistical tools were used to summarise quantitative data while content analysis was used for
qualitative data. Factor analysis was used to isolate crucial factors influencing role performance.
The results showed that majority (78.7 % and 89.2 %) were male and married respectively with a mean
age of 51.83 ± 8.91 years. Also, honesty (92.9 %) and individual contributions to RDAs (84.7 %) were
the major criteria used for leadership emergence. Protecting the welfare of the community members
(mean = 2.42) and community mobilization (mean = 2.28) were the major roles performed. Crucial
factors found to be associated with role performance of community leaders in RDAs were household,
socio‑economic status, bases of influence, institutional support among others. The study concluded
that the identified factors were germane to role performance. It was therefore recommended that
these identified factors should be considered in selecting people into leadership position to enhance
formidable rural leadership structure and sustainable rural development.