Introduction

Introduction

This module presents two major case studies that highlight the importance of effective stakeholder engagement and management in large-scale projects. The first case focuses on the Niger Delta in Nigeria, where decades of oil exploration revealed the severe consequences of poor community engagement, weak corporate responsibility, and inadequate conflict resolution. The second case examines the Three Gorges Dam in China, a globally recognised infrastructure project that demonstrates how insufficient consultation, large-scale displacement, and environmental disruption can undermine development goals.

Together, these examples provide a balanced view of how stakeholder mismanagement can affect both developing and developed contexts. They also demonstrate that the principles of stakeholder engagement—early consultation, fair compensation, transparent communication, and long-term monitoring—apply universally, regardless of sector or geography. By studying these cases, participants will gain practical insights into how stakeholder strategies can either strengthen or undermine projects, and how lessons from one context can be adapted to another, including the Nigerian environment.