Reuben Okereke

Socio-economic Impact of a University Campus Development Project: on a Rural Community in Nigeria Reuben Okereke

Man?s giant stride in improving his lot often generate actions and reactions which themselves pose serious threat to man himself. A major fall out of industrialization and development programmes is the assault on the integrity of the environment. Environmental degradation arising from this had impacted negatively on the quality of life and in some cases posed serious threat to wildlife, ecosystem and the human race. Sustainable development is the main goal of environmental impact assessment. Developing economies need to grow so as to furnish better standard of living for their people. Bruntland Commission of the UN General Assembly in 1983 emphasized the need to reconcile economic growth and development with conservation of resources upon which growth depends. According to the Commission ?Humanity, has the ability to make growth sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without the future generation struggling to meet their own needs? (WCED,1987). Greater public participation in decision that affects their environment is crucial especially grassroot involvement in local resource utilization.