Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Public-Private Partnerships has emerged as a critical factor shaping public trust in government across organizations operating in and around Enugu State. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how public-private partnerships relates to public trust in government has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Enugu State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While public-private partnerships is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on public trust in government within Enugu State remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to public-private partnerships are helping or hindering public trust in government — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Public-Private Partnerships on public trust in government in Enugu State.
2. To assess the extent to which public-private partnerships influences public trust in government within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with public-private partnerships in relation to public trust in government.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing public-private partnerships in order to improve public trust in government.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of public-private partnerships on public trust in government in Enugu State?
2. To what extent does public-private partnerships influence public trust in government within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with public-private partnerships in relation to public trust in government?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize public-private partnerships in order to improve public trust in government?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around public trust in government. For managers and practitioners within Enugu State, the study provides practical insight into how public-private partnerships can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on public administration by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this MSc study confines itself to Enugu State, focusing specifically on how public-private partnerships relates to public trust in government within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.