THE UTILITIES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF

SOCIOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

BY
MUOGBO MICHAEL IZUCHUKWU
SS/PP/2368
TERM PAPER:
Crii!"##$ %i&!'&& () 'i#ii)& "*% &(+r!+,i*-& +.
S+!i+#+-$ i* () !+*),/+r"r$ Ni-)ri"
B)i*- " T)r, P"/)r &'0,i)% + () D)/"r,)* +.
P(i#+&+/($1 S),i*"r$ +. S"i*& P))r "*% P"'#1
B+%i2"1 I0"%"*1 i* A..i#i"i+* 3i( () U*i4)r&i$ +.
I0"%"*1 i* /"ri"# .'#.i##,)* +. () r)5'ir),)*& .+r
() A3"r% +. () B"!()#+r +. Ar& D)-r)) i*
P(i#+&+/($ 6B7A7 HONS787
COURSE
SOCIOLOGY
COURSE CODE
SS/SOC/9:9
LECTURER
DR7 E7E7 OKAFOR
DATE: ;ANUARY1 2:937
TERM PAPER: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE UTILITIES AND
SHORTCOMINGS OF SOCIOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA7
INTRODUCTION
The society is a group of people living together in a community and in some
cases shares the same customs, traditions and laws. This includes the whole issue of
human relationship and is without boundary or assignable limits. It encompasses all of
humanity; all kinds of relationship man enter in the course to live a group life.
Members of a society in most cases have one identity, a feeling which induces them to
conform to mutual expectation.
Human society involves people entering into relationships with each other and
that such relationships take many forms and to participate in society, human beings
maintain an understanding of their relationships with others and of the institutions in
which they participate.
maller scale relationships are connected to larger scale relationships and the
totality of this is the society itself. Human beings have wants, needs and desires but
the form these take is related to attachments to social groupings and participation in
social institutions. The latter are patterns of human interaction which become
instituted over time. !eople therefore recogni"e them and orientate their actions
towards them.
#ccording to ;)"* ;"!5') R+'&&)"' in his book titled <&+!i"# !+*r"!=1
$there is a social contract between the people and the authorities in which the people
surrendered power, ambition, desire and other things to the authorities in exchange for
peace, order, security, stability and other things that will enhance worth while living.
%hen the authorities keep to their part of the contract, it will bring about social
uplift and the society would reach its optimum level but when the authorities fail in
their part of the contract it would bring about social degradation.
The origins of ociology lie in the &'th century when, the (# notes)
$advances in science and technology encouraged people to believe there could be a
rational explanation for everything and that scientific study could lead to the solving
of all of the problems faced by human beings*.
%ith this sense of opportunity and optimism >A'-'&) C+,)?, who gave the
name <&+!i+#+-$=, confidently hoped and expected it would provide the highest and
optimum level of scientific explanation in establishing laws of human behaviour in the
society itself.
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATIONS
ociology etymologically means the scientific study of a society. This
etymological meaning of sociology was gotten from the synthesis of a L"i* 3+r%
<&+!i+&= which means society and a Gr))@ 3+r% <#+-+&= which means study. %hen the
two meanings are merged lexically, it gives sociology the etymological meaning to be
the scientific study of a society or the science of a society. It is the systematic study of
the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organi"ed groups of
human beings in the society.
ociology is conceptual; that is) $Ideas about the society are devised as
concepts to describe and explain the workings and happenings of a society. In this way
the forms of social organi"ation and the results of social institutions which people
create and reproduce in the course of everyday life become defined in sociological
terms*.
There are different definitions of sociology given by different scholars in
ociology) E,i#) D'r@()i, defined sociology as a scientific study of social facts.
#ccording to him, these social facts are the products of individuals, group interactions
and relationships and that they are external to individuals and constrain the way
individuals behave in the society. M"A W)0)r defined sociology as a science that
attempts interpretative understanding of social actions in order to establish cause and
effects of relationships. T"#!+ P"r&+*& defined sociology as the systematic study of
human grouped structures and processes. #ccording to him sociology focuses
attention on aggregate behaviour as well as social groups. A*(+*$ Gi%%)*&
+$ociology*, &','- provides the following general definition) $ociology is the study
of human social life, groups and societies. It is a da""ling and compelling enterprise,
having as its sub.ect matter our own behaviour as social beings. In $The /omplete #0
1 ociology Handbook* +&''2- T+*$ L"3&+* and ;+"* G"rr+% 0 two writers with
recent experience of being an #3# /hief 4xaminers 0 provided the following
definition) $ociology is the study of individuals in groups and social formations in a
systematic way, which grew out of the search for understanding, associated with the
industrial and scientific revolutions of the &,th and &'th centuries*.
5tility in the economical setting is the amount of satisfaction one derives from
the consumption of a commodity at a particular point in time. 6or the sake of the
context of this work or article the commodity here is taken to be the useful services
provided to the public for consumption for example electricity, water supply and many
other things which necessarily must not be materialistic. #ccording to the OA.+r%
"%4"*!)% #)"r*)r=& %i!i+*"r$ B
(
E%ii+*1 utility means the 7uality of being useful,
in other words it means the usefulness of a particular thing or concept.
hortcomings means deficiencies, failures, faults etc. this is the part where a
particular concept, system or plan have failed or rather did not work out as expected.
This synonymously can be taken to be the problems of a particular thing.
NIGERIA
8igeria is a republic in western #frica, with a coast along the #tlantic 9cean
on the :ulf of :uinea. 8igeria is by far the most populated of #frica;s countries, with
more than one0seventh of the continent;s people. The people belong to many different
ethnic groups. These groups give the country a rich culture, but they also pose ma.or
challenges to nation building. 4thnic strife has plagued 8igeria since it gained her
independence in &
st
9ctober, &'2<.
CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA
/ontemporary according to the 9xford advanced learner;s dictionary,
international student;s edition, second meaning $belonging to the present time*.
/ontemporary 8igeria in this context means the present condition and situation of
8igeria.
The utilities and shortcomings of sociology in the contemporary 8igeria
simply means the effectiveness and failure of sociology in the modern 8igerian
societies. The utilities and shortcomings of sociology in the contemporary 8igeria are
strongly influenced by the edifice that was established during the past times and the
edification of the present society.
UTILITIES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF SOCIOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY
NIGERIA
$ociology is the one social science which embraces the whole range of
human activities and this makes it a very wide field of study. #s a result, it offers
many opportunities for specialisation and these are reflected in the work of
sociologists*.
$/oncepts are tested through >),/iri!"# r)&)"r!(? that is, =esearches
involving the investigation of particular aspects of the society and the way people
interact with each other in relationships. This provides a check as to whether
sociological concepts and issues actually correspond to the way social life is
conducted by people in the real sense of it*. ociological research consists of the
identification, development and testing of theories about human beings, their
behaviours and their societies.
The traditional focuses of sociology have included social stratification, social
class, culture, social mobility, religion, seculari"ation, law, and deviance. #s all
spheres of human activity are affected by the interplay between social structure and
individual agencies, sociology has gradually expanded its focus to further sub.ects,
such as health, medical, military and penal institutions, the Internet, and the role of
social activities in the development of scientific knowledge, .ust as a matter of fact a
rise in scientism.
The range of social scientific methods has also expanded. ocial researchers
conclude based on varieties of 7ualitative and 7uantitative techni7ues. The linguistic
and cultural turns of the mid0twentieth century, led to increasingly interpretative,
hermeneutic, and philosophic approaches to the analysis of the society. /onversely,
recent decades especially in 8igeria have seen the rise of new analytically,
mathematically and computationally rigorous techni7ues, such as agent0based
modelling and social network analysis. ociology should not be confused with
various general social studies courses which bear little relationship to sociological
theory or social science research methodologies.
UTILITIES OF SOCIOLOGY IN THE CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN
SOCIETY
UTILITY OF HUMANISM:
$Humanism is a global outlook that maintains that human being has the right
and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their live. The humanist in the stand
point of some philosophers is informed that human being have no creator or maker but
are born with power to shape and determine their destinies but it could work
efficiently with the aid of a good social orientation. This is therefore not a naturalistic
philosophy as opposed to super0naturalistic and other worldly ideologies*.
The utilities of sociology in this context is that since sociology deals with the
society and human relationship, it helps in this conceptive aspect because when one
relates with another, he get to know the ideas and opinions of other thereby not limited
to only his own knowledge about the things of their society and how to make a better
future for himself. ince human beings are free thinker, they are characteristically
non0dogmatic and non0authoritarians.
A SOCIALLY ORGANISED WAY OF LIFE)
ociali"ation is a very important aspect of the human society because there is
need to ensure that culture, norms and values are passed from one generation to
another. The 8igerian society is sociali"ed today because of the utilities brought about
by sociology and the inability to do this may bring about social vices.
8igerian society varies greatly between urban and rural areas, across ethnic
and religious borders, and with levels of education. till, most 8igerians share a
strong attachment to the family and especially on children, to clearly differentiated
roles for men and women, to a hierarchical social structure, and to the dominance of
religion in shaping community values.
ocial life in 8igeria has traditionally revolved around ceremonies) weddings,
infants; naming ceremonies, and public performances associated with cultural and
religious activities. >oung adult males living in cities en.oy going to cinemas, dance
clubs, and bars for recreation. $ome Muslim women, for example among the Hausas,
have their own social dressings and social institutions revolving around the ?B+ri;, a
cult of spirit possession. (ori ceremonies provide women with a forum for interaction
that is relatively free of male control, and offer explanations and remedies that help
women cope with problems such as the death of their children or husbands*.
EDUCATIONAL UTILITIES)
6or generations before the arrival of 4uropeans, 8igerians taught their children
informally about their culture, tradition, work, survival skills, and social activities.
%ith the aid of sociology, civili"ation came in and people received formal teachings
about concepts. ome societies gave more formal instructions about the society and
culture as part of young peoples; rites of passage into adulthood. In Islamic
communities, students studied the 3ur;an +@oran- and read other religious texts
written in #rabic. Many of the more able students pursued higher Islamic studies and
became teachers, clerics, or legal scholars.
$#dult literacy is estimated to be A, percent for men and 2B percent for
women. #n improvement resulting over the past years from the universal primary
education and programs for adult literacy. 9fficial data, however, estimate literacy
only in 4nglish, thus discounting the significant level of literacy in #rabic among
northern Muslims. # large number of Islamic schools are still in operation*.
LANGUAGE UTILITIES)
Most 8igerians speak more than one language including foreign languages.
4nglish, the country;s official language, is widely spoken, especially among educated
people. Many native 8igerian languages have been identified, and some are threatened
with extinction. The most common and dominant of the native languages are Igbo,
Hausa, and >oruba. 9ther ma.or languages include Ibibio, Tiv, 4fik, 4do, I.aw, and
8upe. The most widely used languages have several distinct regional dialects, and in
some regions, such as the Cos !lateau and surrounding middle belt, hundreds of small
groups make for wide linguistic variations across short distances. The two main trade
languages are pidgin, a distinct language in which 4nglish is combined with native
languages, used commonly in the south; Igbo commonly in the east and Hausa, used
mostly in the north.
THE UTILITY OF PERSONAL FREEDOM AND DECELOPMENT)
$The act of giving free rein to one;s thinking is a free thought. /an you re.ect
all dogmas and ignore all orthodoxyD /an you .ump the bar put by superstitions and
faith without the aid of sociologyD That is being a free thinker*.
To let your thoughts soar and to fly beyond customary convections and mores
is to be in the realm of free thought and these are the gifts and utilities of sociology.
6or a thought to go beyond the borders of one;s own limits and beyond ancient and
modern authorities is also the fruit of a good social community, precisely human
sociali"ation. The advantage of free thought is that it nurtures the in7uiring mind in us,
and sharpens our critical and creative acumen.
HUMAN ORIENTATION AND SOCIALIZATION)
ociology as a discipline has battled its way out to see that the causes of
human behaviors are well examined because the societal development is under the
influence of the individual developments of the people that made up the society.
Ealues are the things one regards to be good, desirable and better in
comparison with other things. 9b.ectively, value is a 7uality in a thing that makes it
desirable. ub.ectively, value is a deep conviction that something is good, right and
important and therefore worth seeking and having. It is an orientation towards a thing
external and essential to an individual.
There are many human and social values like) reason, intelligence, skepticism,
naturalism, human right, .ustice, freedom, individual anatomy, e7uality, privacy,
human solidarity etc. the human and social values are many to be mentioned and they
are all the fruits, gifts and benefits of a well sociali"ed community. The opposites of
these values are regarded as bad concept and they would occur or suffice where
sociology fails.
UTILITY OF SOCIAL FREEDOM)
;)"* ;"!5') R+'&&)"' said that $man was born free, yet every where he is, is
chain*. This chain R+'&&)"' was talking about would be broken when sociology is
properly utili"ed. #ll bondages must be destroyed that man may be free. 9n the
mental level, freedom is essential to man to think about himself and be free from
unreasonable dogmas.
The concept of freedom runs through all other sociological value so that in
everything he does, a man must operate freely and autonomously, in other words
sociology is on its optimum level.
In this 8igerian contest of social freedom, it includes freedom from primitive
and oppressive tribal customs, traditions and values; 8igerians should be free from
such customs like female genital mutilation, the sub.ection of women in the
patriarchal families, the >O&'? caste system in Igbo land, the oppression of widows
and other customary vices.
UTILITY OF HUMAN RIGHT AND SOCIAL ;USTICE)
Cust as other utilities of sociology, human right is one of the values of sociology;
there cannot be peace without .ustice, now the concept of human right is rooted in
.ustice. %ith the statements above, I can say that the structures and institutions that put
limitations on the rights of individuals, groups and communities are preventing .ustice
from being reali"ed. In this contest, it is not only constitutional rights but also natural
rights of man that he got from creation.
SHORTCOMINGS OF SOCIOLOGY
8igeria is a country that has enough material and intellectual resources to
make a good social life for her citi"ens but when the intellects and resources are
misused or abused, it brings about a non social society. In spite of the merits of
sociology in the contemporary 8igerian societies discussed above, I can still rationally
argue that it still have some weaknesses in other words demerits. They are as follows)
RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AND CRISIS)
In the case of religious conflicts and crisis in the contemporary 8igerian
society, it has been a big challenge facing sociology as a discipline. Many 8igerians
due to the fruits a of these crisis like taking a particular religion to be superior to the
other, (oko Haram crises and conflict of bombing the church, are really tired of
worshipping :od, a :od they cannot see or touch no matter how hard they try.
(ecause of the crisis, some /hristians are disgusted with the fact that :od, the
almighty exists; is he there watching the (oko Haram group bomb his church with the
believers inside itD The land devastated by diseases, conflicts and corruptionsD There
is a great need of sociology in the 8igerian societies to cure these social illnesses that
were brought about by an ineffective social community and is affecting the socio0
religious life of the people in the society.
SOCIAL IN;USTICE)
The discrimination perpetrated against the minorities all over the country is
e7ually built on the socio0political and economic structures of domination right from
the Cihad and was exacerbated during the colonial era. #ll these result in the
continuing violation of the basic human right of a large section of the 8igerian citi"ens
using the instruments of the state and application of un.ust polices. $ome values like
political repression, marginali"ation, coloni"ation, racism, sexism etc militates against
peace and .ustice*.
$#nother form of social oppression is the hari; a legal code being
implemented in some region of the federation. The moment preference is given to a
particular religion over another in a multi0religious society like 8igeria; you are
giving grounds to in.ustice because it entails discrimination, it also means that the
rights and freedom of the other religion is tampered with. It necessarily violates the
principles of e7uality before the law, and it amounts to an imposition*. This is the
exact of what the hari; a law has done because to some extents it bounds the limits of
the natural rights of those that did not subscribe and conform to it.
SOCIAL ECIL AND NETWORK CRIMES:
ociology brought about civili"ation and with civili"ation, people learnt and
are sociali"ed on how to commit crimes in an advanced way that they would not be
caught. 4xamples of such crimes are) frauds like duping, internet crimes like hacking
of people;s site, computers and accounts illegally. #nd also due to the civili"ation that
was brought about by sociology, the internet was made accessible for those that have
the accessories like a set of computer, mobile phones e.t.c. and because of this, our
youth are visiting pornographic sites to watch nude movies thereby putting a 7uestion
mark on the future of the youths and of the nation in general.
LACK OF SOCIODECONOMICAL AND ENCIROMENTAL MAINTENACE)
$The rural economy that supports most 8igerians is based on the productivity of the
land, FFG of which is cultivated. oil fertility varies considerably but is generally
poor. The most fertile of the soils are the result of alluvial deposition of dead animals
and fishes in river valleys. Many, however, are overused and eroded. Trees, which
help prevent erosion, are often used for fuel, lumber, material for tools, fodder for
animals, and herbal medicines. #s a result, the landscape is becoming increasingly
barren of trees, especially in densely populated areas and near larger cities*.
8evertheless, the country, due to lack of a well oriented socio0economic
training, has to some extent abandoned farming as a means or source of income and as
an export goods and have so much cringed and embraced the production of petroleum
as their ma.or means of revenue generation and also as the ma.or export product.
CONCLUSION: This work began with the clarification of the concept of
$ociology* that aided this task. I also made a survey of the contemporary 8igerian
society and tried to identify the utilities and shortcomings of sociology in it.
ociology as a discipline identifies the examples of the variety of behaviours
both of individuals and institutions because sociology as a discipline is concerned with
studying and explaining of social behaviours and there causes.
#s discussed in the early paragraphs of this work, sociology has its strength
and weaknesses; the strength of sociology is advantageous to us as the constituents of
our various societies and the weaknesses are disadvantageous and are of bad
influences to us. %ith regards to the previous statements, one can conclude that the
strengthening sociology is essential for us living in the modern 8igerian society.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Mending the cracked pot) Haily :raphics 8igeria Iimited, Ibadan, J<<F. /opyright
=ev. 6r Innocent Coo.i, 6orwarded by) #rchbishop C.9. 9naiyekan.
2. Humanism in 8igeria) ("ack !ress, 9werri, Imo state, J<<2, 4dited by 4nyeribe
9nuoha.
3. /ultural Hevelopment #nd 8ation (uilding) #deyemi !ress Iimited, I.ebu0ife, &',2.
4dited by .9. 5noh.
4. Hevelopment of 5nderdevelopment) conceptual issues in political 4conomy) 6rontline
(ooks, Ibadan, 8igeria, J<<F. #kinyemi 9nigbinde.
5. #n #fro0/hristian Eision, Towards # More Humani"ed %orld) 5niversity !ress of
#merica, Inc, &'AK.:eorge 9maku 4husani.
6. =ecall, # /H=98I/I4 96 8I:4=I#8 4E48T) Hope !ublications, 5niversity of
8igeria, Ibadan, J<<J. 4dited by 9lusegun 9ladipo and Isioma @asim.
7. 8I:4=I#8 /5IT5=#I H4=IT#:4) IMI/9, !ublishing /ompany, 9nitsha, &''<.
(y !rofessor 4. Ikenga0metuh and !rofessor 9lowo 9.oade.