SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (A CASE STUDY OF IMPACT OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY ON ABRAKA COMMUNITY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

From a functional perspective social institutions (SIs) regulate the social space, ensuring that there is relative stability and security. Without these institutions, modern societies will be chaotic, dysfunctional, and devoid of social harmony. In other words, society will be socially unbearable without the structures of organisation that SIs provide. Social Institutions are agencies of socialisation that help achieve the common objectives of human societies. Their primary function is to promote social integration and inclusion. Yet, in what is an apparent paradox in today’s modern society, social institutions, in some instances are believed to be functioning in ways that exclude large populations from being part of a shared prosperity. It can be argued that Social Institutions formulates social codes and frameworks that guide behaviour in societies. But many times, these codes/frameworks become obstacles to equal opportunities for many individuals and groups, including women and children. As a social institution, education is integral in the building of the moral fabric and ethics of society. In many ways religion mediates how individuals in the society experience other Social Institutions. Education as a social institution plays a key role in the development of contexts of meaning, value orientations, symbolic codes and the concept of right or wrong. It is one of the few common grounds between the rich and the poor in Nigeria. Thus, the proliferation of educational institutions in Nigeria should have a positive impact on social integration. Human beings are to educate and to be educated. The primary aim of education is to sustain individual and societal improvement. This process contains both tangible and moral dimensions. Educational programs and policies play a pivotal role in this social and individual progress. Social progress clearly indicates a general development in the community in terms of economic, social and cultural aspects. In sociological terminology, social development is used for a concept displaying all positive developments in the social construct. To put it differently, this is to state a society which is considered to be progressing and changing from a fairly less decent situation to a favourably better conditions with respect to economic, social and political issues. The main difference between the living and the non-living is that the former always renews itself. One of the mechanisms which provides and maintain this renewal is education. Thus, the comprehension and explanation of the role of education in this social development is of paramount importance so as to understand the previously stated progress and change.

1.2. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Social institutions are important structural components of modern societies that address one or more fundamental activity and/or specific function. Without social institutions, modern societies could not exist. Societies consist of a range of institutions that play myriad specific roles in facilitating human social life, and which themselves are dependent upon one another for the performance of their respective functions. A given institution can also perform different functions at once and/or over time. In this respect they differ from formal organizations, which are hierarchically differentiated via an organizational structure and serve primarily to facilitate rational action (Zweckhandeln) and the realization of particular interests. Institutions in the realm of education and training provide for the transmission and cultivation of knowledge, abilities and specialized skills, and for the broadening of the individual horizon. They can also be seen as instruments for the secondary socialization of individuals. These institutions can operate in myriad social settings. Despite their varying points of emphasis, these institutions are particularly important to modern society. Among these are the institutions of the family and education, those regulating the labour market and economy, those in the realm of law, governance and politics, and those in the sphere of culture, media and religion. The constitutive roles of an institution and their relations to community development will be analyzed; the impact of the institutions on community development will also be researched.

1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to examine social institutions and community development. Other general objectives of the study are:

1. To examine social institutions, functions and types.
2. To examine the role of social institutions in community development.
3. To examine the impact of social institution on development of Abraka community.
4. To examine the importance of social institutions on community development.
5. To examine the relationship between social institutions and community development.
6. To suggest strategies for effective development of Abraka community by available social institutions.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are social institutions, functions and types?
2. What are the roles of social institutions in community development?
3. What are the impacts of social institution on development of Abraka community?
4. What are the importances of social institutions on community development?
5. What is the relationship between social institutions and community development?
6. What are the strategies for effective development of Abraka community by available social institutions?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

H01: There is no significant impact of social institution on development of Abraka community.

H02: There is no significant relationship between social institutions and community development.

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

There are many people that will benefit from this research. Both the young and the old will gain a lot of things from this work. The level of education will not only be improved by social institutions among the youths but also among the old ones. This research will be of advantage to everybody in the community because the knowledge of how to provide solution to community’s problems will be acquired. The knowledge of social institutions, role they played in community building and development will be known. The research is organized in such a way that will highlight the role played by the social institutions in community development.

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is based on social institutions and community development, case study of impact of Delta state University on Abraka Community.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Social Institutions: A social institution is a complex, integrated set of social norms organized around the preservation of basic societal values. They support the society's survival. While societies may differ in how they establish these institutions and in how simple or complex they are, we find the same five basic social institutions among all human groups.

Community: Is a physical place, but it also can be defined as people who live in the same location, share common interests, jointly own or participate in something, share common characteristics, or have mutual relations.

Development: Relates to realizing potential, growth or expansion of something, or making something more effective. Put together simply, community development is the act of growing, expanding or making more effective groups of people who have mutual interests.

Community development:  Is a group of people in a community reaching a decision to initiate a social action process to change their economic, social, cultural and environmental situation – Christenson et. al (2010). Community development is a process that increases choices.