A don at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Raphael Olawepo has canvassed for a new approach of governance to rural communities in order to make them more sustainable and accessible to improved public goods and services.

Olawepo, who teaches Geography at the university, disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara State recently when he delivered the 157th inaugural lecture of the institution entitled, 'Learning from the People: A Geographer's Mandate for Sustainable Rural Development', said, "the nature and dimension of the problems confronting rural development in Nigeria requires a new approach to governance so as to add more values to the socio well being of the rural communities".

According to him, "Governance in the rural areas needs to be democratised to make rural development more accountable, transparent, efficient and inclusive. The rural people must be brought into all aspects of planning from rural appraisal to budgeting implementation and community monitoring".

Olawepo added, 'this development would help rural communities to see rural projects as theirs and as such participatory development would be sustainable".

He also said "life in the rural areas should be made attractive and profitable with a view to keeping these people in their homes and surrounding through an improved accessibility to public goods and services.

"The bulk of rural development programmes should be shifted to the local government administration who are closer to the grassroots, but first there has to be local government proper autonomy in terms of finances and rural development policies, which should come directly from the federal government".

He stressed that in making use of the national development plan, it should be devoid of politics no matter which political party wins in an election.

The don, however said if such plan is adequately implemented, there would be no need for each political party to have another agenda so as to enhance regional and even development of the country.