ABSTRACT:

Application of research findings is a sine qua non to attain sustainable development. There is no gainsaying that development in less development countries of the world especially Africa has not been achieved. This is evidenced in the apparent lack of basic infrastructural facilities and abysmal poor quality of life in the rural areas. It is this noted worrisome situation and the necessity for addressing the problem that inspired the need to put up this paper. In carrying out
the study, we had as our basic objectives, to generally overview the underdevelopment state of the Nigeria rural areas and its implications, we also thoroughly examined the impediments to the realization of meaningful rural development in the country and to explore the necessary or imperative measures to enhance the development of this very important sector of the Nigerian society. The basic problem discovered is that the application of research findings as tools for satisfying the yearnings and aspirations of the people is lacking. Very critical again is that research is poorly funded in less developed nations especially in Africa. Finally, the relationship between rural development, research findings and national development as well as sustainability has also been critically discussed.