The Town and Gown Relationship and Sustainable Community Development in Nigerian Contemporary Universities

Often, universities exist around communities and sometimes towns do grow and develop beside them. Thus, a type of relationship emerges. The study examined the relationship between the universities and their host communities in Nigeria with a view to adduce solutions for sustainable Town and Gown relationships. Tai Solarin University of Education is used as case study. There were 220 samples that ranked the levels of “effort” and “comfort” in a town-gown relationship using Likert five-point scale ranging from “Very Negative” to “Very Positive.” The 220 copies of the questionnaire distributed were returned; analysed and presented with the aid of a table of percentile. Like any good marriage, there has been ongoing courtship that led to more “engaged” campus and community. The campus contributes physical development, consumers, jobs and educated residents. The community has also been of assistance to the university. Sturdier and more successful town-gown efforts may take time, commitment, patience, creativity and willingness from both parties to give and take. The university public relations and marketing professionals may be saddled with the instrumental role in developing and enhancing these relations. They must be cheer leaders for the community and the university. The institutional leadership and the Public Relations Unit of the university may be positioned as the town-gown ambassador. The work recommends that there must be sturdy Town and Gown Association for each university and its community. Each should aspire to be active members of the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA), based in Clemson, Southern California.