The formations of huge sand dunes have submerged the entire village which result to migration, people displacement and relocation, loss of farm land and threat to animals’ lives due its negative impact to vegetation cover. Previous studies had indicated that desertification is an impediment to rural development. It destroyed vegetation cover and exposed the soil to wind erosion. It also has severe financial and social consequences including, property damage, increase health hazards, safety hazards and decreased in agricultural productivity [1-4]. There are many alternative method of reclaiming environment [5] and afforestation has been identified as one of the appropriate technique to combat desertification and desert encroachment. Forest policy management of many developing nations encourage afforestation, for instance in Nigeria the forest management policy decrees to emphasise afforestation and ensure trees were not exploited, felling of trees edict, 1986.The offence encourage fine of five thousand naira (N5,000) or to be imprison for a period not exceeding three years. The Sri-Lanka forest management policy of 1995 provides promotion of afforestation on State lands FPU, 1995. However, afforestation programme on large scale required a huge amount of money. But in many developing nations, afforestation has been suffering from lack of adequate funds [6]. Community based organization of afforestation are developed effectively to move toward effective community participation in afforestation. The Involvement of the Low Cost community in afforestation programme is growing trend in empowering to take matters in their own hands The goal of the afforestation programme is to achieve environmental protection and Low Cost community development through participation, this paper critically adopts a behavioural approach to empowerment as an essential ingredient in exploring the level of people’s participation in afforestation program and determined the level of community empowerment.

The research is a case study which employed survey design in which structured questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. This design is appropriate for data collection in quantitative study. To determine the level of participation in afforestation programme, adequately to help capture reality across the community and sought to address issues of demographic profile, the awareness to understand their afforestation related activities. The study is Low cost community of Geidam local Government Yobe State, Nigeria.

Sampling Procedure and Sample Size

The sample size of the study is 61 respondents which was calculated using Gpower (version 3) software at α = .05 at 95% confident interval. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample out the total population [7]. 

Instruments and Secondary Data

In the survey, a set of structured questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions were constructed. It has three sections. The first section is about the socio demographic information, while the second section information on participation of the community members in the afforestation program. The third section was related to social capital development among the respondents. The researcher developed the questionnaire independently; it was based on the afforestation programme, and community’s participation in the afforestation programme. To ensure the questionnaires validity and reliable, pilot test was conducted in the area. From the pilot study, the Cronbach’s value type of participation was 0.832; while the level of participation0.762and in the planning implementation and the evaluation was 0.898. Besides primary data, secondary data from dissertations, journals and books were used in this study.

Data Collection

Data was collected during cultivation period between April and May 2019. An enlightenment contact was carried out prior to the time for data collection by contacting the community leader and community mobiliser. This was directly carried out by the researcher through interactions with the village head as well as the community members. The interactions helped the researcher to ensure that the questionnaire developed answered the study objectives and it is in line with the objectives of the activities which is conducted by the Geidam Low Cost community and subsequently shows the technicalities of how the interview would be conducted and helps the people to understand the important attached to properly responding to the questions. The distributions of the questionnaire to the respondents and its collections take about three weeks the entire questionnaires given were duly completed. The problem faced during the data collection was that of logistic and had been overcome by the community leader.

Data Analysis and Mearsurement

 The SPSS software was used for data analysis. This includes the descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage, sum, and standard deviation. The inferential statistics used was Correlation analysis to determine the relationships between dependent and independent variables. Multiple regression analysis and ANOVA had been used to determine if there were any difference that exists in both type and level of empowerment with their level of participation.

A total of sixty one respondents who were involved in this study from two wards, namely; Low Cost Bulamari and Afunori of Geidam low cost community. The age group of the respondents was ranging from less than 20-51years. The study shows that 49.2% were able bodies which range from the age of 31-40years, while 27.9% was from the middle age group which 21-31years. Almost all of the respondents were from the same community that is, indigenous which account for 90.2% while 49.2% of the respondents’ ethnic background are Kanuri. Muslims constitute 91.8% while 8.2% were Christians.

Out of the total sample of sixty one respondents, male constitute high percentage of 90.2% and female were only 9.8 %. This is because in the study area women were not allowed to participate fully in the afforestation program to avoid interactions with men, unless with their husband and relatives. This makes it possible for men to dominate the afforestation programme in the community.

The respondent’s participation in afforestation programme was determine through their engagement in the planning, implementation and evaluation process in afforestation activities. The respondent’s level of participation based on planning, implementation and evaluation were summed up and grouped to measure the stages in the level of their participation. The level of participation was categorized into three namely; low, medium and high level of participation.

Table 1: Respondent demographic profile 

In the planning process about 37 respondents which constitute 60.66% have been recorded low level of participation. That means majority of the respondents were not involved in the planning process. While 14 of the respondents that is 22.95% were recorded of medium level of participation in the planning process of the afforestation. And 10 respondents which constitute 16.39% have the highest level of participation in planning process. Therefore, peoples involvement in planning process in afforestation programme in Toshia community is low with regard this analysis. In the evaluation stages, 9 of the respondents (14.8%) has low level of participation this is a clear indication that, it is only minority of the respondents have low level of involvement in the monitoring and evaluation process of the afforestation programme. While 20 0f the respondents (33.8%) has medium level of participation and 32 of the respondent (52.5%) has high level of participation. This is a clear indications that the community had participated actively and efficiently in the activities organized by the community which is the afforestation programme regarding the level of participation. The results indicated that the respondents has participated more actively in the implementation stages rather than in the evaluation stages and planning. This was supported by Nigel [8] and in another finding by united nation 1993 where it has indicated that indigenous people have the right to participate, if they so choose, at all level of decision in matters which affects their right, lives and destinies.

Table 2: The relationship between participation in the Planning Process and the community empowerment Baca secara fonetik

Kamus - Lihat kamus terperinci

Based on a correlation test results showed that, there is a relationship between participation in the planning process and the community empowerment. Where the value of r = 0.274^* with p<0.05.

The above table shows that induced participation led to high level of empowerment while forced participation led to low level of empowerment. It is clear indication that when respondents were forced to participate it led to low level of empowerment. One-way ANOVAs analysis was utilized to determine if there were any difference in respondent’s types of participation and the level of empowerment. The result indicates on overall significant effect for level of empowerment. (f = 6.004 df = 59, p.001)

There is significant relationship between the type of participation and the level of empowerment among the Low cost community .The result shown that there is significant relationship between the type of induced participation and the level of empowerment. Research findings by Hedayat A. et al. [9] argue that voluntary participation will lead to empowerment.

The findings had rectified that there was a relationship between level of the respondents participation and the level of the respondents empowerment .The correlation coefficient is0 .292 with p 0.05 this shows that, there is significant relationship between the level of participation and level of empowerment. That is, the higher the participation the higher the level of the empowerment. This finding shares with Ong [9] which indicated that participation of indigenous community contribute to their level of empowerment.

Based on a correlation test results showed there is relationship between participation and Social Capital. Where the value of r = 0.272^* with p<0.05Table above shows that there is significant relationship between participation and social capital (of r = 0.272^* with p<0.05) or rather significant effects for social capital among the Geidam Low Cost community, that is, the higher the induced participation the higher the social capital at the community level.

Table 3: Difference in level of empowerment with some independent variables

The result shows that there is significance relationship between participation and social capital. This has been associated with causal pathways the norms and the value influencing related behaviour ,the collective production of wellbeing is notice in that informal social network and mutual trust, high level of cooperation, participation has influence number of complex social setting coming together forming different serving committee to facilitate the community’s activities, showing concerned to one another their boundness together to resist desertification there is high emotional relationships facilitating connections between individuals and community to take care of their community social life. Participation had improved social connectedness of the community through enabling active participation and guidance have reshaped the community, contribute to raising strong sense of neighbourhood, cohesion and high involvement of the community. This is a clear indication that the community exhibit high level of social cohesions, established trust and mutual relationships.

Table 4: The relationship between participation and Social Capital Baca secara fonetik

Kamus - Lihat kamus terperinci

The assessment of awareness, social capital, and experience showed varying capacity-building levels among respondents. Most demonstrated high capacity, reflecting strong awareness and participation skills. About 30% had low levels, indicating limited access to information and training. These individuals need targeted programs to enhance skills and engagement. Overall, the community showed good readiness for sustainable development.

Regression

Using multiple regression analysis, the relationship between the community’s level of participation and their empowerment level was carefully evaluated. The results revealed a strong and positive relationship between the level of awareness and community participation, suggesting that individuals with greater awareness are more likely to be actively involved in community development initiatives. Moreover, the findings highlighted that human capital has a very strong and positive association with participation, emphasizing the importance of skills, knowledge, and education in enhancing community engagement.

The regression analysis further demonstrated that a positive relationship exists between the level of participation and empowerment, meaning that as participation increases, the community’s sense of empowerment also rises. These findings are consistent with the results of Rahman and Naoroza, who found that local communities’ participation in developmental programs significantly contributes to their empowerment levels.

Table 5: Multiple regressions of the predictors of the level of empowerment

By using the multiple regression test, the analysis showed a significant regression model for the variables of awareness, social capital, and human capital, with a value of F = 5341 and p < 0.05. This indicates a statistically significant model. The predictor variables in this regression equation reveal the relative strength of each factor. Among them, human capital demonstrated the highest level of dominance (t = -2787), followed by social capital (t = 952), suggesting that human capital plays a more influential role in determining the level of community participation and empowerment compared to other predictors. These findings reinforce the idea that investment in human capital and social networks is essential for fostering sustainable community development and empowerment.

Through participation members of community implies development of skills and ability to make decision that affects their lives. Participation entails the mechanism that lead to address inequitable distribution of power within the individuals. Empowerment concept is consistent with participation in afforestation program. In participation empowerment incorporates major dimensions such as personal commitment, learning and achievement of social goal. Rappaport [10] and Zimmerman [11-12] has emphasis the psychological empowerment such as personal control, self efficacy and mastery over ones lives.

They gained skills and ability to enable them to manage better, have a voice in existing though; they have achieved the pre determined targets. Participation helps them to increase their control over issues which affect their lives. They learned how to plan and implement developmental program. The capability of the community to make complex decision based on confidence and trust developed among them and they can solve their community problems on their own. They plan, implement and evaluate activities; the powerless among them has been empowered and shares in the truths of the development. Participation leads them to skill acquisition, knowledge and confidence and the tacit knowledge had been translated into explicit knowledge then they were empowered and this is directly as a contribution of community participation.

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