Abstract:
There are empirical proof to show that families perform some vital traditional roles in community development activities in Nigeria and other developing countries of the world. However, their effective role-performance in sustainable community development is being affected by certain factors. This paper reviewed the concepts of family and its traditional roles in the society: community development; sustainable rural community development, the relationship between the family and community development. Some of the challenges facing the family for survival and sutainable community development in the 21st centrury were also discussed. On the basis of the conclusion drawn some recommendations were made.