IRD

INTEGRATED RURAL
POST-EVENT SUMMARY REPORT
Conference Theme:
DEVELOPMENT Rural Associations as A Vital Tool in Community Development
CONFERENCE 2021

Name of Event: Integrated Rural Development Conference 2021

Date of Event: November 17, 2021

Location of Event: Online Via Zoom Webinar

Number of Persons Attending: 30

Sponsoring Organization: Rural Community Project

Contact Name: Obodozie Christian Uche

Telephone No: +2347063350037

Email: ruralprojects.ngr@gmail.com

CONFERENCE SUMMARY
On 17th November 2021, the Rural Community Project (RCP) sponsored the
2021 Integrated Rural Development Virtual Conference which focused on rural
associations as a vital tool in community development. The Conference was
open to the public and approximately 30 people were in attendance. During
the conference, attendees shared opinions, thoughts and suggestions for
consideration by the National Assembly.

RCP Founder and Project Director, Chris Uche Obodozie and 2021 IRD
Conference Team Head, Ebere Doris Gomwalk-Ijere were on hand to open the
conference. Mr. Obodozie officially proclaimed the Conference open by stating
the key Conference objective of shifting focus from personal gains to
community interests while showering appreciation and gratitude on the
eminent speakers, organizing team and participants.

The keynote speaker was Professor Nnadi Florentus Nwabugo of the

Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Prof Nwabugo spoke on the conference theme: Rural Associations as a Vital
Tool in Community Development.

The first session consisted of presentations from 2 out of the 3 invited guest
speakers, namely: Dr Ikechi Agbugba, an Academic, Agribusiness
Activist/Researcher with the Rivers State University and Rome Business School
(Nigeria Campus), as well as a Roving Ambassador to the State of the African
Diaspora (SOAD); Professor Chukwuemeka Oteh, Associate Professor, Head of
Department, Sociology, Madonna University (Okija Campus). Topics covered
included: Application of Participatory Rural Appraisal by Rural Associations for
the Development of Biomass-Based Electricity for Community Development in
Nigeria.

The second session included presentations by the last guest speaker Professor
Gideon Baklit, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, as
well as from the regional representatives from the Six (6) Geopolitical Zones of
Nigeria. Among them were Dumebi Chuks from the North Central, Ayodele
Faude from the South West, Tochukwu Ezeali from the South East, Yunusa
Magaji from the North West and Edoviobaghogho Kelly from the South South
regions. There was no representation from North East as he had an emergency
that made him absent and unable to attend.

Sessions which lasted for 20 minutes each were jointly co-moderated by Dr

Juan Nwaiwu (PhD in Agricultural Extension & Rural Development) from the
Nnamdi Azikiwe University alongside Mrs. Ebere Gomwalk-Ijere, a Senior
Scientist, Researcher & Writer. The presentations from the regional
representatives took 10 minutes each.
 CONFERENCE OUTCOMES
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CROSS-SECTION OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS