ABSTRACT

The study investigated the effect of Osu caste system on the development of rural communities in Imo State, Nigeria. The study described the socioeconomic profile of the respondents, ascertained level of awareness of Osu caste system, examined perception of Osu caste system, examined the level of participation of the Osu case system in community development programmes, ascertained the level of involvement of the Osus in local leadership and determined the perceived effects of Osu caste system on development of rural communities in the study area. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 165 respondents. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (regression, correlation and t-test). The results showed that 70.9% of the respondents were male, young and active with mean age of 41.2 years, 75.2% were married, 68.5% had tertiary education, 70.3% were civil servants, 100.0% were Christians, 53.9% were cosmopolites, 6 1.2% were not community leaders, had mean household size of 5 persons, earned mean monthly income of N91,206.6 and 6 1.2% were members of community development. The result also showed 79.4% of the respondents were aware of Osu caste system. The result further showed high perception (.V 3.58) of Osu caste discrimination, high level of participation (X =2.42) Of Osus in community development activities, general low level (X = 2.09) of involvement in local leadership, and confirmed that Osu caste system had effect (- = 3.30) on the development of rural community. The result of Tobit regression estimate showed that tradition/custom at 1%, norm at 1%, age at 5%, education at 1%, occupation at 1%, religion 5%, cosmopoliteness 1%, community leadership 1%, income 1% and membership to community development organizations 1% influenced perception of Osu caste system. Tobit regression result showed that community development activities; annual contribution, project support, sensitization, mobilization and site selection at 1% and attendance to meetings at 5% influenced perception of Osit caste system. Also Tobit estimate showed that gender, age, marital status, occupation, household size, income, membership to Community Development Organizations and financial contribution at 1% were the determinants of' participation in community development activities in the study area. Correlation analysis showed significant relationship between perception 'of Osus and their involvement in local leadership at 1% level of probability. Correlation analysis also showed significant relationship between involvement of Osus in local leadership and their participation in community development programmes in the study area. The study concluded that the effect of Osu caste discrimination on the development of rural communities were poor participation in decision making, poor development, poor social cohesion, abuse of human rights, inequality/discrimination, rural urban migration, communal conflict in some places, lack of freedom, poor involvement in local leadership among others. The study therefore recommend that sensitization, research, awareness campaigns, conferences and public debate should be organized by Igbo leaders to educate people on the effects of Osu caste system on the unity, peace and development of lgbo land.