Integrated development in a Nigerian rural environment: Issues of inter-disciplinary co-operation

This paper attempts a conceptual clarification of the term development in a national or regional context. It emphasizes the integrative and systemic nature of, as well as the underlying principle of social justice in, meaningful development efforts. Illustrating with a part of the Nigerian rural environment, the paper shows how certain problems of the rural communities can have region-wide, if not nation-wide, implications. The policy issues for effective remedial measures are outlined, and their effective implementation is shown to depend very much on carefully undertaken problem and resource evaluation and streamlined inter-disciplinary co-operation.