OSU/DIALA Caste System Impeding The Child’s Education And Social Development In Igbo Land, Nigeria: The Imperative Of Enthroning Godly Leaders And Human Rights Enforcement

Abstract

This research focused on osu/diala caste system as impediment to the education and social development of the child in Igbo Land, Nigeria: The imperative of enthroning godly leaders and enforcing human rights. The Igbo is one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria and geographically located in eastern Nigeria. The diala is regarded as freeborn and has unlimited opportunities and privileges. In contrast, the osu is regarded as slave and has limited privileges and rights. Under this caste system, social mobility across the two castes is not allowed to the extent that two consenting adults are often refused marriage by their parents on the reason of osu/diala caste system. The consenting adults either out of mistake or desperation give birth to children. Such children of circumstance unfortunately are denied their deserved parental care which include guidance, discipline, socialization, protection, education and provision of basic needs because there is no legitimate father hence no outstanding sponsor in school. It was found that those children hardly go to school because there is no sponsor and even if they go to school, they performed poorly because of challenges ranging from not knowing the surname to bear,

being emotionally disturbed, being stigmatized, inability to provide basic school needs etc. The study concludes that osu/diala caste system does not only impedes the child’s education and social development but it is also discriminatory, obnoxious and retrogressive. It was however recommended among other things that Government should enforce Child’s Right Act; communities should choose leaders who are characterized by conscientiousness and godliness; National Orientation Agency (NOA) should enlighten the people on the evils associated with the osu/diala caste system.