Age Grade as Traditional Institution and Cursor for Rural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

In a traditional institution, Age Grade has witnessed significant level of development in most part of the country. However, the paper examined the significance of age grades and rural development in Nigeria. As a traditional institution, age grade help in improving the dynamics for both socio cultural, sociological and philosophical, by annexing the energies of various peer group and mobilizing them for rural development. The community indications of cultural involvement in rural area usually directs toward developmental ventures such as facilitation of education, employment, poverty reduction, provision of skilled and semi-skilled labour and provision of improved seed lines for agricultural purposes. The paper recommended among others that “As a matter of necessity, government should ensure a modus operandi of all peer groups (age grades) or clubs as constitutional to avoid harmful and barbaric practices while a department of age grade should be established within the third tier of government to encourage communities on rural development.