Dear all,
I would like to begin with this question; could the best mechanisms for rural development and engagement be inclusive stakeholders; where all are involved in the affairs and decisions of the community in any area? If this is it, it must be clinically inter-web where all interface with the best strategies, programmes and projects for themselves that foster their interests. However, if we really want global community transformation and accelerated development; it must begin with rural communities, stakeholders’ inclusivity and adaptability. We should be ready to employ all stakeholders in communities irrespective of who they are, ideas and innovation. This will create community’s knowledge hub for the community’s development. This should include the local council’s leaders, elders, women, youths, civil society organizations and private sector, that forms community policies, communal government in our localities. In other words, these people are more knowledgeable and aware of the needs and challenges of every community. The roles of culture and tradition in the environs that affect them, possibly become laws and norms in the local environs. With their knowledge and awareness help can be harnessed and foster indigenous knowledge hub and programmes for the community. The belief, tradition and culture system that are retarded to the community can be abolished for transforming rural communities.
There are archaic and primitive system in some communities that need transformation and these can only be done through inclusiveness. Abolishing these traditional norms and beliefs take systematic approach from insider to carry out. Inclusive system can help transform not just infrastructural development of the community but their mindsets. For example, the educational system, innovation mechanism, women/girls rights and social system inclusion are strong effect of change. Ideas and innovations can be better manage in these rural communities by engaging their minds for productive and modern system. The transformation system can be better worked on in the local level for all to speak with one voice and mind, and participate in community discussion and policies making. They are the best to represent themselves in social delivery of the community. Challenges can be better analyzed and solved with their local language and engagement. This will help to raise and maintain local knowledge management and engagement. This can also be traded at national and international level which will help civilize and abolish primitive and archaic tradition and culture. However, this can be achieved through national and international invitation for thought provoking discussions, workshops, trainings, seminars and conferences that affect communities, thereby accelerating high connection for community practices and exchange of knowledge.
The community knowledge can be tailor towards globalization to reinstate communal system practices in an innovative form. The big factors have been beliefs and culture in these local environs. For example in Nigeria, the misconception of ethnicity for political gain, is something that can be worked on at the local level. Real communal system practice should be reintroduce to enhance national unity in order to stop the misconstrue of politics of ethnicity that divides communities. Communalism helps to stabilize political system within the community. In addition, there should be a less tradition and more modernization that strengthens civilization and national development. This will also strengthen functional family’s system instead of dysfunctional families system that causes social vices in a state.
The values system of community should be study and uphold for transformation. National values begin with community, if these values are worked on, it will reflect naturally in the system without coerce, because it is a family structure system. It could be repeated anywhere because of one voice and implementation. There are also conflictual cultures and traditions that cause insecurity in a community. These should be do-away with to allow transformation and all stakeholders’ participation in rural development.
Meanwhile, gender equality goal needs to be visited and review. Gender inequality is more of rural issue than urban, because of the level of understanding and beliefs. The tradition and local cultures have overwhelmed their civilized mindset as a result of stories by fathers and mothers. These have restricted modern transformation in different localities. Notwithstanding, there is a beautiful aspect of this that has grown and developed the community which has given room for female participation in local events, discussion and decisions. Historically, global community tends to practice universal law that supports man's headship which the female folks are much aware of and probably have long accepted. The universal behavioural trait! The reality of this is that human creature has designed it so, but, however, not to be violated, oppressed nor suppressed by man against her tender nature.
To be more effective in this gender equality campaign, the global system and organizations should intensify effort against women violations, abuse, oppression and rights etc. Male headship is a universal behavior that is difficult to campaign against. The fact remains that this can be champions and intensify as campaign against women violations, abuse and their rights instead of gender equality. It is high time we face the truth and be realistic in this universal behavioral trait and the campaign. Let's channel our energy and resources on women/girls rights instead of equality. This is not to disabuse the current world's campaign but to be more effective and achievable, let's face the fact! Let civilized rural communities through campaign on the need of women/girls rights (to education, freedom of right association, social inclusion etc) and stop women abuse, educate girl child but not in competition with men. Above all let's invest more in human rights. However, this could be seen as my opinion and summation.
In conclusion, we can work together to achieve community transformation with inclusive policies and orientation for local and global system. This will help eradicate local menace that pose threat to rural transformation and development. We can modernize community culture and tradition with inclusive system via consistent awareness and advocacy in our rural areas and standard communal system practices by stakeholders. And more can be achieve for women/girls through social inclusion, education and freedom to right associations.
Thank you.
Esosa Tiven Orhue
先生 Esosa Orhue