Title: Residents' socio-cultural experiences and effects on neighbourhood public space in Nigeria

Authors: Oluwagbemiga Paul Agboola; Mohd Hisyam Bin Rasidi

Addresses: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Osun state College of Technology, P.M.B. 1011, Esa-oke, Osun State, Nigeria ' Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Postcode 81310, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Abstract: Residents' experiences in the varied context of socio-cultural, religion and ethnic background in the community are no doubt a fundamental issue that needed to study in the built environment. Limited empirical research has been carried out on residents' socio-cultural experiences on neighbourhood public space. The objective of this study is to explore the residents' socio-cultural experiences towards the market square as a public open space in Nigeria. Regression analysis of a total number of 382 completed survey questionnaires with SPSS demonstrated that residents' view and experiences on public space is significant (P < 0.005) across residents' age, employment, ethnic groups, often time and frequency of visiting the public space and the neighbourhood in general. The implication of the findings highlights peoples' experiences on places which determine how the particular setting will be maintained, utilised, challenged and negotiated. This calls for effective planning, management and better utilisation of public space. Also, the findings would enhance the formulation of policies that ameliorates conflict problem that characterises the ethnically diverse community.

Keywords: public space; market square; residents' experience; meanings; regression analysis; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2018.094499

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2018 Vol.10 No.2, pp.123 - 139

Received: 14 Jun 2017
Accepted: 23 Jun 2018
Published online: 03 Sep 2018 *

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