RELIGION AS A TOOL FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Osajie, Justina Nwazuni

Department of Christian Religious Studies,

College of Education, Agbor

Email: crystalcyberccafe@gmail.com

Abstract

The paper explores the possibility of drawing on religious values and ethos in solving some of the problem militating against national development. The paper undertakes a sociological interpretation of the phenomena which have militated against meaningful development of the nation viz a viz global standard. It discovers among other things that corruption, poor leadership, moral decadence, insecurity, low economic growth, religious crisis among others contribute to the low pace of development of the nation. It concludes by recommending that all religious groups should draw on the theosophical perspectives of religion (Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion) in the country to foster peaceful co-existence in order for the nation to actualize her dreams of national development.

Keywords:  Development, Tool, Corruption, Sociological, Challenges.

LES VERTUS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE AU MONDE NOIR AFRICAIN 

Felix Amoah 

Département De Français,

Nasarawa State University, Keffi

Email: dr_amoah@yahoo.com

Résumé

Ce sujet  englobe les divers pays dans le monde, où le Français est utilisé comme une langue officielle parlée, écrite et lue exécutivement, législativement et juridiquement. Ensuite, on y trouve aussi l’image pure de la culture française à laquelle s’ajoutent la marque du développement dans les sciences et dans les techniques, ainsi que le progrès institutionnel publique, l’agrandissement politique, économique et social, afin d’établir des emplois et d’éviter l’ennui, le vice et le besoin étant les gros problèmes sociaux dans le monde  entier.  Également, au point de vue historique, le monde francophone africain est déchiré entre la culture française- avec laquelle il est  coincé de s’identifier – et les valeurs africaines que les colons français lui avaient appris à mépriser et à renier. Ainsi, consciemment, ce dit monde se réveille de son aliénation culturelle pour vivre absolument son authenticité noire africaine en proclamant et en chantant la beauté de sa race et sa fierté de sa peau noire, afin de mettre à jour sa vraie personnalité. 

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CULTURAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS INTER–ETHNIC MARRIAGE AMONG HAUSA, FULANI AND KANURI ETHNIC GROUPS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF NIGERIA

Popoola, Olusoji David

Department of Sociology and Anthropology,

Igbinedion University Okada, Edo state, Nigeria

Email: popoolaolusojidavid@yahoo.com & popoolaolusojidavid@gmail.com   

Abstract

The importance of inter- ethnic marriages among a plural state like Nigeria could not be over emphasized. Apart from serving as a bond between people of different backgrounds, it is a veritable tool of national integration and social cohesion. However, marriage is a cultural phenomenon and as such, the culture of a society or a group of people regulates the principle and practice of marriage and union among members. Thus, the attitude of an individual to marriage and especially inter-ethnic marriage it’s a function of the cultural determinants. Using cross-sectional survey design and a combination of cluster and convenient sampling methods 348 Respondents were randomly selected from the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri ethnic groups in northern Nigeria. A five-item scale (Cultural Attitude towards Inter-ethnic Marriage Inventory – (CATIMI) was used for data collection.  Data collected were statistically analyzed while four hypotheses in the study were tested.  Results obtained showed that factors such as, Security, Peace, and harmony, educational status, as well as religion, significantly influenced the cultural attitude towards inter–ethnic marriages among Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri ethnic groups in Northern Nigeria. Therefore, to achieve cohesion and sustainable integration among the three major ethnic groups in northern Nigeria, efforts should be made to improve the cultural attitude towards inter -ethnic marriages. To achieve this, the Federal Government of Nigeria should provide an enabling environment for security, peace and harmonious co-existence among various ethnic groups in Nigeria. Provision of universal and qualitative education, as well as programmes and policies that will promote inter-religious harmony, should also be implemented.