Goodwin Nwadibia Aja
Ilishan-Remo, a rural community in South Western Nigeria, located about 100Km away from Lagos City is committed to improving the health of the people through self-help efforts since government is unable to provide all the needed amenities due to dwindling economic resources. Established social networks in major urban centres are useful vehicles for improving the health and lives of the people. Resources from richer urban-based, well-to-do kinsmen are mobilized to support community development initiatives such as rural electrification, water supply, hospital building and maintenance, health centres, road networks, etc. Resources are mobilized and disbursed to address specific needs of the community and managed by a reputable and an accountable development body called Ilishan Development Committee (IDC), duly elected by the community members. This paper, therefore, presents the mechanisms and processes by which social networks contribute to the life and health of the rural people in the ancient town of Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.