Olagoke O. O.¹, Oyelere G. O¹, Adeeko A.^2,

The work beheld the vitality of community –driven development as a panacea for midwifing the much touted sustainable rural development. Secondary data were collected qualitatively on the trends of rural development right from the pre-independent era till this current phase, also on the concept of development, community development, and Community-driven development. The submissions of scholars in the development science were analysed through content analysis. Critically, the study delved into the vantage position of community-driven development as a channel through which sustainable rural development can be attained by juxtaposing two scenarios. The paper opined that community-driven development is the missing link to ensuring sustainable rural transformation. It was observed that all developmental initiatives geared towards achieving an all-round development of rural community in Nigeria had not yielded the desired results, knowing full well that the larger percentage of the African population dwell in rural community, and that the economic transformation of sub-Sahara African hinges on its rural development. Therefore, study recommends rural people inclusiveness in terms of participation, transparency, probity and enhanced capacity in implementing rural developments projects, and in all other efforts that will translate to overall development of rural people.

community-driven, development, rural, sustainable Panacea, Nigeria