ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE IN UNDERMINING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN GOMBE

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of divorce on community development in Gombe State, Nigeria, with specific reference to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development. A survey research design was adopted to generate quantitative data from staff of the ministry. The study population comprised 290 permanent and pensionable staff, from which a sample size of 168 was determined using Slovin’s formula; however, due to time and logistical constraints, 74 questionnaires were administered, and 60 valid responses were retrieved, representing a response rate of 90.3%. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency tables and simple percentages. Findings from the study reveal that financial stress, unemployment, intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, and substance abuse are perceived as major causes of divorce in Gombe Metropolis. The results further indicate that divorce significantly increases the financial burden on single-parent households, disrupts children’s education, and weakens social cohesion by reducing trust, support networks, and community participation. The study also shows strong support for interventions such as marriage counseling, conflict-resolution services, economic empowerment programs, and strengthened child protection and school support services as effective strategies for mitigating the negative effects of divorce. The study concludes that rising divorce rates pose serious socio-economic and social challenges that undermine community development efforts in Gombe State. It recommends the adoption of integrated policy measures that combine family support services, economic empowerment initiatives, and child-focused interventions to enhance family stability, promote social cohesion, and foster sustainable community development.