Community Development and the Role of Social Workers in Rural Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Rural communities in Benue State face compound challenges including poverty, food insecurity, displacement caused by farmer-herder conflicts, and limited access to social services. This study investigates the role of social workers in facilitating community development in selected rural areas of Benue State, with a specific focus on communities in Makurdi, Gboko, and Otukpo local government areas. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the study gathers data from 90 social workers and community members using structured questionnaires. Data are presented through tables and analysed with descriptive statistics. Findings indicate that social workers engage communities through needs assessment, livelihood skills training, group formation, and mediation of local conflicts. However, respondents report that poor infrastructure, low community trust, and inadequate budgetary allocations consistently limit the reach and sustainability of social work-driven development programmes. The study observes that communities hosting displaced persons from conflict zones require specialised trauma-informed approaches that many current practitioners are not trained to provide. The research recommends integrating community development curricula into social work education, increasing government funding for rural outreach, and building partnerships with civil society organisations to extend service coverage. This study contributes to the evidence base on social work practice in conflict-affected rural settings in North Central Nigeria and offers actionable recommendations for practitioners and policymakers. Keywords: community development, rural social work, Benue State, displacement, poverty