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THE UTILITIES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF

SOCIOLOGY IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA

BY

MUOGBO MICHAEL IZUCHUKWU

SS/PP/2368

TERM PAPER:

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COURSE

SOCIOLOGY

COURSE CODESS/SOC/99

LECTURER

DR7 E7E7 OKAFOR


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DATE: ;ANUARY1 2937


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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


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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


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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 subect matter our own behaviour as social beings. In $The /omplete #0

1 ociology Handbook* +&''2- T+*$ L"&+* 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 O.+r%

"%4"*!)% #)"r*)r=& %i!i+*"r$ (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 #fricas countries, withmore than one0seventh of the continents people. The people belong to many different

ethnic groups. These groups give the country a rich culture, but they also pose maor


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challenges to nation building. 4thnic strife has plagued 8igeria since it gained her

independence in &st9ctober, &'2),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 isconducted 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.


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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 subects,

such as health, medical, militaryandpenal 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 7ualitativeand 7uantitativetechni7ues. The linguistic

and cultural turns of the mid0twentieth century, led to increasingly interpretative,

hermeneutic, and philosophicapproaches 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 studiescourses 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*.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_stratificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_mobilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_(sociology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_and_agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_and_agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_the_Internethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_scientific_knowledgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_turnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_turnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_turnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verstehenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_classhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_mobilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_(sociology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_and_agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structure_and_agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_healthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_the_Internethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_scientific_knowledgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qualitative_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_turnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_turnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verstehenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computational_sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent-based_modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_stratification


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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 enoy 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.


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%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 3uran +@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 countrys 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 maor languages include Ibibio, Tiv, 4fik, 4do, Iaw, 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 DEELOPMENT)

$The act of giving free rein to ones thinking is a free thought. /an you reect

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*.


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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 ones 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. 9bectively, value is a 7uality in a thing that makes it

desirable. ubectively, 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


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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 subection 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)


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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 unust 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 inustice 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.


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SOCIAL EIL 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 peoples 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 SOCIOECONOMICAL AND ENIROMENTAL 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 maor means of revenue generation and also as the maor 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.


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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) aily :raphics 8igeria imited, Ibadan, J


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6. =ecall, # /H=98I/4 96 8I:4=I#8 4E48T) Hope !ublications, 5niversity of

8igeria, Ibadan, J

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