Sense of Community in Nigerian Urban Slums: A case in Core Area Housing, Ibadan

The study of man-environment relationship in the global south has continued to receive attention, yet studies on the relationship between sense of community (SOC) and housing conditions in Nigeria’s urban slums remain scarce, despite the deficient housing quality and quantity that characterises the core areas of Nigerian cities. Improving sense of community, the bond individuals develop with their community and culture – a key determinant of a sustainable environment, could facilitate citizen participation in community development activities. This study investigated sense of community in Oke-Foko, a traditional setting in inner-city Ibadan, using household survey data from 856 houses. The results revealed that only half of the respondents had a sense of community in their home environment. The expression of affective bond dimension is higher than social interaction dimension. In addition, general satisfaction with house and neighbourhood, availability of social amenities and facilities, presence of digital infrastructures, length of stay, and economic benefits are the highest predictors of sense of community in the core area. The implications of the findings are that strategies that improve social amenities and facilities, and digital inclusion in the community should be improved. Furthermore, the economic benefits derived by residents from their community should be enhanced for them to develop and sustain sense of community, which invariably enhances their participation in pro-environment activities. A Comprehensive Framework for Affordable Net Zero Housing: Identifying and