The major purpose of this study is to determine the impact of interpersonal communication in conflict and community  development with a particular reference to Ivo Local Government Area. Data collection was based on questionnaire and oral interview and the data was analyzed with percentage, finally  the hypothesis was tested using correlation method. It was discovered that interpersonal communication plays a vital role towards conflict resolution and community development. The study also narrates how interpersonal communication serves as a medium of communication used in conflict resolution and initiation of development policy. It was on the basis of the above findings, that it was recommended among other things to the opinion leaders peace committee and community leaders to gather with community developers, that interpersonal communication is the best approach of communication because of its face to face and immediate feedback during interaction . However this medium of communication should be used in dialoguing policies in conflict resolution and community development. 

Title  - - - - - - - - - - - -i

Declaration - - - - - - - - - - - -ii

Certification- - - - - - - - - - - -iii

Approval - - - - - - - - - - - -iv

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - - -v

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - - -vi

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - - -vii

Table of contents  - - - - - - - - - -viii

11 background of the study- - - - - - - - - -1

12 statement of the problems - - - - - - - - -3

13 Research questions- - - - - - - - - -4

14 Purpose of the study - - - - - - - - -4

15 Research hypothesis - - - - - - - - - -4

16  Significance of the study  - - - - - - - - -5

17 Scope of the study- - - - - - - - - -6

18 Limitation of the study- - - - - - - - - -6

19 Definition of terms - - - - - - - - -6

110 Organization of the study - - - - - - - -7

The meaning and nature of communication - - - - - - - -9

The origin of the word communication - - - - - - -10

The process of communication - - - - - - - -10

The major types of communication - - - - - - - -12

Level of communication - - - - - - - - -13

Meaning  and nature of interpersonal communication  - - - - -13

The nature of interpersonal communication - - - - - - -14

The meaning and nature of conflict  - - - - - - - -14

The meaning and nature of community development - - - - - -15

Theory of conflict resolution and analysis propounded by Morton Deutsh in 1973 - -18

31 Research design - - - - - - - - -20

32 Area of the Study - - - - - - - - - -20

33 Population of the study - - - - - - - -20

34 Sample and sampling techniques - - - - - - - -20

35 Method of data collection - - - - - - - - -21 

36 Instrument for data collection    - - - - - - - -21

37 Reliability of the instrument - - - - - - - -21

38 Validity of the instrument - - - - - - - - -22

39 distribution and retrieval of instrument - - - - - - -22

310 Method of data analysis - - - - - - - - -22

42 Analysis of research questions - - - - - - - -23

43 Testing of hypothesis - - - - - - - - - -31

44 Interpretation of Hypothesis- - - - - - - - -33

51 Summary of findings - - - - - - - - -35

52 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - -35

53 Recommendation - - - - - - - - - -36

Communication is the life wire of every living organism To live is to communicate what a cell does in every living organism is exactly what communication does to human being and it entire environment Communication is the eye through which people sees other peoples mind and know their intention and adapt to it and restore ecological harmony which will enhance development within them

For the cause of this research work, I will rest my study to a branch of communication known as interpersonal communication Because of its authenticity and accuracy in generating information as a result of face to face interaction and immediate feedback in nature 

The importance of interpersonal communication in conflict resolution and community development” cannot be over emphasized in Nigeria and the entire world Interpersonal communication have played a vital role in conflict  resolution and community development Interpersonal communication is very vital necessary in community development, because of the function it performed in establishing unity within the communities that made up the Ivo Local government Area in Ebonyi State

The functions interpersonal communication can perform will be enumerated as follows settlement of land dispute, rural conflict intertribal crisis and other controversies among the communities Interpersonal communication will be very-very vital in all endevour because it will enhance development in the community through dialogue because through communication there will be peace it is certain to have progress with development in our various communities

According to Chibuzor Asomugha and Anwuli Chukwukaelo (2014:32) Communication which is used in everyday life from greeting process of sending and receiving message that enables human to share knowledge ideas thought, information feelings emotion and  attitudes According  to Nweneme (2009:21) interpersonal communication is the type of communication which occurs between two persons in face to face communication encounter 

He added that during interpersonal communication contact, it made between personal, one act as a sender or source the other act as a receiver or decoder According to Agbo and Ezinwa (2008: 68) interpersonal communication cannot exist in a vacuum, they must be some  form of human interaction or contact, persons must be involved Finally Okunna (1999:16) said that it is a type of communication that take place between or among persons predominantly in a face to face situation, she added that interpersonal communication include public speech panel discussion,board meeting and social conversation She also stated that this type of communication can as a well take place in a small micro group gathering such as village meeting round table discussion  or meeting of academic and non academic staff on the other way community development can be defined according to Eberinwa (2011:109) as a movement designed to promote living for the whole community with the active participation and if possible on the initiative of the community but if this is not forth coming spontaneously by the use of techniques for arousing and stimulating it in order to secure its active and enthusiastic response to the movement According to Onwuka (2008:13)   he see community  development as  a process by which effort of the people themselves are united with that government authority to improve the economic, social and political/cultural condition of the people to enable them contribute fully to the national progress He added that community development makes it possible for the participation of people Themselves in effort to improve their level of living standard with much reliance on their own initiative and priority as possible on the provision of technical and other services in a way that will encourage efficiency and effectiveness in development of the communities However the term conflict means misunderstanding, controversy and situation that is so un-conducive to people and their programmes Why resolution is  a process that involves discussion or dialogue to bring to an end of any conflict and restore harmony in our organization finally to identify the evolution of my case of study “Ivo Local Government area in Ebonyi State was created out from old Ohazara in formal Imo State and located in Ebonyi south It is made up of two communities which are Isiagu and Akaeze

Interpersonal communication has helped immensely in resolving of conflicts and as well encourage development in Ivo Local  government Area entirely such conflicts resolved and development achieved can be list as follows settlement of political crisis, interperty crisis that erupted in Akaze in the year 2003 and other communal conflict and land dispute between the two communities On the other hand development achieved can be enumerated as follows; building of maternity home, hospital, school, pipe borne water, market etc which promote the standard of living of the people within the local government

The researcher wants to look at problems conflict and controversies which exist in Ivo Local government area how it have hinder development The problems will be stated as follows;

1 The political crisis that exist between the two communities that made up the local government in struggle of who will emerge as he local government chairman

2 The land dispute which erupted within the two communities in 1991 and other communal crisis 

3 Problem of bad road bad water electricity etc

4 The problem of identifying felt need

These research questions will be enumerated as follows;

1 What effort has interpersonal communication made towards resolving of political  crisis in Ivo Local government area?

2 To what extent has interpersonal communication been used as a means of identifying the felt need of the people?

3 How far has conflict withhold the development of the community?

4 What was the role played by interpersonal communication as a means of dialogue and discussion during 1991 land crisis between Akaeze and Isiagu?

The main purpose of this research topic is to know interpersonal communication has contributed immensely in the resolution of communal conflict, political crisis land dispute and other controversies in Ivo local government area and it effort in developing the communities within Ivo

Moreover to determine the extent to which rural dwellers in Ivo local government adhered to interpersonal communication as a means of conflict resolution and community development 

The following hypothesis was formulated to guide the study

Ho: interpersonal communication make no effort towards resolving political crisis in Ivo Local government area

Hi: interpersonal communication made effort towards resolving of political crisis in Ivo local government area 

Ho: conflict has not withheld the development of the community

Hi: conflict has withheld the development of the community 

Ho: Dialogue and negotiation have never been a means of settling conflict and identifying felt need of the community

Hi: dialogue and negotiation have been a means of settling conflict and identifying the felt need of the community

Ho: community leaders and peace committee have not adhered to interpersonal communication as a means of discussion

Hi: community leaders and peace committee have adhere to interpersonal communication as a means of discussion

This study is out to inform people from Ivo local government area the impact of interpersonal communication in resolving of conflict and development of the two communities that made Ivo local government The main impact of interpersonal communication in Ivo  LGA can be seen below

i Resolving of “2003) political crisis through the help of interpersonal communication  political crisis erupted in Ivo LGA was successfully resolved

ii Since people from Ivo LGA adopted the system as a means of resolving conflict and other minor controversies there is a decrease in conflict and increase in development because peace within them

The scope of this study is to find out the problem and controversies that exists and how those problems have hinder development on one hand On the other hand, how interpersonal communication will be use as means of solving them and enhancing development I this topic the researcher  will limit the scope of the study in the following  groups of people, community leaders, peace committee, development union, the councilors, farmer, unemployed persons and students from various community that make up Ivo Local government area

In a research project of this nature, it is difficult to complete the work without going through numerous of factors which constituted impediments The impediment will be time and money This resulted in the researcher not being able to gather the entire questionnaire distributed and not being able to print as much questionnaire as may be required in this work

To expand the knowledge of the reader of this research work the following term will be defined 

i Interpersonal communication: Interpersonal communication is the type of communication which occurs between two persons in a face to face communication encounter  He added that during interpersonal communication contact, its made between persons one act as a sender or source, the other act as a receiver or decoder with immediate feedback According to Okunna (1999: 15) this is the type of communication that take place when two or more individuals are involved mostly in a face to face situation with immediate feedback

ii Conflict: According to oxford advanced learners dictionary 6th edition which defins conflict   as the opposition or disagreement, fight struggle and quarrel

iii Resolution according to the same dictionary which defines resolution as the act of resolving and settling problems dispute and other related controversies

iv Community development: According to Onwuka (2008:13) he defines community development as the process by which effort the people themselves are united with those government authority to improve the economic, social and cultural condition of the communities to integrate those communities into life of the nation to enable them contribute fully to the national progress 

IVO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA: Ivo LGA is presently in Ebonyi south and was created from old Ohazara A local government in 4th republic during the regime of Abdusalam Abubakar

This provides template or map that will guide the readers  through the reading and understanding the project It contains how the study organized and conducted and how the chapters in the project have been sequenced to achieve the research objective

CHAPTER ONE of this work will give background information to the study where problems to be study will form the purpose of research study and research question will be formulated for it

CHAPTER TWO, will review relevant literature as regard to the variables under review It is a careful revision of writing or collection of production that exist on the phenomenon under study and theory will be adopted to form the theoretical framework which will present theory that will explain the variables or phenomenon under study

CHAPTER THREE this refers to the overall strategy that the researcher chooses to integrate the different components of this work in a coherent logical way, thereby ensuring he will effectively address the research problem It comprises the blueprints for the collection measurement analysis and confirming the accuracy and authenticity of data collected

CHAPTER FOUR This is the process of organizing and analyzing data into it logical and  sequential order separately the whole into its constituent part according to the specific research question under statement of the problem 

CHAPTER FIVE this is where the whole research work under study are been summarized and generalization is given in form of conclusion and recommendation as a solution to the problem of the study