SOCIO-ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND URBANISATION STRESSORS: ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADO-EKITI RESIDENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the socio-economic drivers and implications of urbanisation on the quality of life of residents in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Urbanisation, while often associated with development, also creates pressing challenges in developing contexts such as housing shortages, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and infrastructural stress. The study employed both primary and secondary data. Using an annual growth rate of 3.05%, the population of Ado-Ekiti was projected, and a sample size of 400 respondents was determined in line with Glenn (1992) at a ±7% precision level. Structured questionnaires were administered across key districts to capture residents’ socio-economic characteristics, urbanisation drivers, and their perceptions of quality of life, using a five-point Likert scale. The research was theoretically anchored on Urbanisation Theory, which explains the expansion of urban settlements; the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), which examines how urban residents adapt their resources and strategies to sustain living standards; and the Quality of Life (QoL) Theory, which provides insights into residents’ well-being under conditions of rapid urban change. Multiple Linear Regression analysis revealed that natural population increase, rural-urban migration, employment opportunities, and availability of social amenities significantly influenced the pace of urbanisation in Ado-Ekiti. Furthermore, the regression model confirmed a statistically significant relationship (F = 24.601, p < 0.05) between these drivers and residents’ overall quality of life. The study recommends reducing rural-urban drift, upgrading infrastructure, promoting environmental sustainability, and implementing population control policies.