Nigerian-British Relations: An Acid Test for British International Development Programmes in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to examine, analyze and provide an in-depth study of the Department for International Development (DFID) and its activities in Ekiti State, Nigeria between 1999 and 2003. The work assesses the performance of the organization, essentially as an integral part of the international relations between Nigeria and Britain.

The work has through a combination of oral, empirical and analytical sources of data assessed the implementation level attained by DFID, with a view to ascertaining its relevance and contributions to the development of Ekiti State.

Findings of the work however revealed many factors underplay the workability of the overall goals of the organization; the leadership personality factors of the two countries, internal and economic policies of the partners, financial incapability of the recipient country, fulfillment of the partnership terms of the relations, and ultimately, the zeal to carry out programmes effectively as construed to bring results, change and improvement to the lives of Ekiti citizenry.

Taking as a whole, the prospects for the practicability of the bilateral relations between the two countries demands, a new kind of realism, readjustment of misplaced priorities and probably even a greater insight and understanding into the limitations of the mission.