Abstract

This paper identifies some of the challenges facing communication strategies in sustaining national development. It reviews issues surrounding communication strategies and supported the findings empirically with a view to understanding possible barriers to development using communication strategies. Using convenient sampling technique, 50 respondents from Nigerian Ministry of information and National planning were sampled. Data for the study were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and focus group discussion. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Kendall rank test, with the aid of statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS).  Basic challenges identified include ownership of communication outfit to technical, cultural, and ethno religious issues in Nigeria. We suggest that the implementing agency of National development should adjust the strategy on the basis of the evolution of the stakeholder groups’ levels of knowledge and awareness. Development projects must also be firmly rooted in people’s local reality, their organisations, their customs and their culture.

Key words: Sustainable development, challenges, communication strategies.