THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Despite modernisation, the tradition of the people remains very important, as it serves as their root. Traditional institutions imply a collection of people who by community customs and practices, occupy positions to exercise governance over homogeneous people within a culturally defined territory. This research work investigated the role of traditional institutions in rural development of Benue State, Nigeria using existing relevant literature. The study found that historical constitutional development has seriously eroded the significance of this institution in Nigeria and indeed Benue State in particular. Despite all odds, the institution has played relevant roles in rural development for Benue people by mobitizing, initiating programmes and cooperating with the elected government to achieve development. The study therefore adopted structural functionalist theory, particularly the idea of Talcott Parsons, for explanation. Nevertheless, the study discovered that partisanship potitics globalisation, civilisation, abuse of chieftaincy of titles, and other factors affect its relevance as regards rural development Consequently, suggested that appropriate measures should be taken by the government to checkmate the traditional institution to make it work better for the good of our society.