ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING OF OJUDE OBA FESTIVAL IN IJEBU LAND

This study evaluates community engagement and stakeholder participation in the planning and execution of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Land, Nigeria. The festival, an essential cultural event, faces challenges in sustaining authentic cultural practices amidst growing commercialization and globalization pressures. This research aimed to assess the extent of community involvement, the effectiveness of communication channels, and the inclusiveness of stakeholder participation, particularly among underrepresented groups such as women, youth, and local entrepreneurs. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to gather data from a sample size of 134 stakeholders, though 111 valid responses were ultimately analyzed. The study explored key aspects, including the roles of various stakeholder groups, the mechanisms for communication and participation, and the spatial planning of festival venues. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative insights were derived from in-depth interviews, focusing on themes of power dynamics, transparency, and community involvement in decision-making processes. The findings reveal that community leaders (24%) and cultural groups (43%) are prominently involved, while youth organizations (51%) and environmental groups (42%) are significantly underrepresented. Communication was found to rely heavily on formal meetings and online platforms, both of which were rated as very frequently used (mean score of 5.00), while informal meetings (mean score of 1.10) and community consultations (mean score of 1.39) were underutilized. Spatial planning of the festival venues was rated as good or excellent by 81% of respondents, yet 78% indicated that crowd control measures were inadequate. Moreover, 100% of respondents reported significant environmental impacts related to noise, traffic, and waste management. This study recommends the establishment of dedicated stakeholder engagement committees, the enhancement of digital platforms for broader participation, and the implementation of regular community consultations. By addressing these gaps, the Ojude Oba Festival can continue to thrive.