CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study

Calabar, city and seaport in Southeastern Nigeria, capital of Cross River State, on aim, estuary of the Gulf of Guinea. It is a major transportation center, with good road connections, to the rest of Southeastern Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon, and excellent natural harbor, and an airport. The city is the market center for the surrounding area in which cacao, palm oil, cassava, rubber, and timber are produced. Industries include sawmilling, boat building, cement and ceramics production, and food processing.

The city is the site of the University of Calabar (1975) and the Federal Polytechnic, Calabar (1973).

Calabar dates from the 17th century, which it was a prominent slave- trading port. During the 19th century, it became a center from trade in palm oil and palm kernels. From 1885 to 1906 Calabar was the center for British administration of Southern Nigeria. The Efik are the city’s dominant ethnic group. Population (1995 estimate) 170,000.

1.2  Statement of the Study

       Nigeria is still a primarily rural country, with only 48 percent of its population living in cities. Urban areas, however, doubled their share of the population between 1970 and 1996. The country has a long history of Urban development, particularly in northern and southwestern Nigeria where substantial cities are Lagos, and Ibadan.

       Calabar, one of the Nigeria first capital and grew as Colonial Nigeria leading port.

       In Calabar, and other coastal cities, Christian Missionaries introduced European education in the 1,840s. within a few decides, schooling in English was well established, and some elite families sent their children abroad to study.

       Government reforms in the 1970s led to a primary school enrollment rate of about 90 percent of all Calabar Children in 1980. The rapid expansion contributed to falling standards of instruction and other problems. By 1990 only 72 percent of children attended the compulsory first six years of education,  due to government cutbacks, rising school fees, the deterioration of building inferior instruction, and poor prospects for graduate.

1.3  Objective of the Study

       As in other parts of the country Calabar traditional society have recently been involved in development in many ways. Although this is so empirical study is rather lacking in this regard to ascertain the level to  which this is true in traditional Calabar society and Efik in particular. What is, however, Clear is that the Urbanizational changing role of efik people has left impact in every fiber of the society.

       Therefore, the aims of this research are as follows:

1.    The assessment of Urbanization and social development of the contemporary traditional efik been turned around by the influence of Colonial and traditional factors which has aided the Efik to integrate in Calabar properly.

2.    To examine the advantages of Urbanization and social changes of new religious, educational opportunities towards development in Calabar.

3.    To find out the understanding of the Urban and social role of efik in Nigeria generally.

4.    To ascertain the rate of conformity to modern values and system in Calabar and society so as to optimizes their potentials

1.4  Significance of the Study

Much can be said to have been done in the area of Urban and social change in Nigeria society before and after Colomalism.

Many researchers have highlighted the social, economic, religious and political changes that have occurred and how they affect Calabar and Africa in general. Most importantly, such works seen only to take into account the developmental aspects of those changes, consequences neglecting such as the agents of changes in this case, Coloniatism with its tools namely, Western education, Christianity and market economy.

This study is also important because it intends to show the extent Calabar people, aided by Urbanizational and social developmental tools of western education, Christianity have gone in asserting that the time has gone when they should not longer be regarded as beasts of burden and however of wood. This is in spite of existing social barriers and economic obstacles in Calabar traditional societies and Nigeria in generally.

1.5  Scope of the Study

       A study on Urbanization and social development evolves a whole range of sociological issues such as men, women and family and national development and family planning etc. really the scope of this research centered on Urban and social change or development and predominantly Urban traditional Calabar society.

       This research work is limited to the impact of Urban rural development on Calabar institution with the view of the contemporary.

       Undoubtedly, the major table of this research is on identification of social changes that have occurred in these aforementioned areas such as sex, age education and religion.

1.6  Research Hypothesis

       The following hypothesis will be generated for statistical analysis:

i.     There is a significant difference between Urban and rural development on social changes.

ii.    There is a significant difference between the Christian in Urban and Christian in rural area in responding positively to familial departures from traditional customs of development.

iii.    With the advent of colonialism development has, ceased to be an important aspect of Calabar societal, social development.

iv.    There is a significant difference between even the younger generation and the older generation toward embracing development.

1.7  Definition Concepts

       The following terms have been specifically defined for the purpose of this study and the meanings attached to them as definition in this study.

URBANIZATION: Shift of population from rural area to cities, and the resulting growth of Urban areas.

SOCIAL: Relating to human society and how it is organized.

DEVELOPMENT: Physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and societal changes.

TRANSPORTATION: Area of commerce that uses to transport people, cargo and mail.

TRADITION: People custom or belief.

COLONIALISM: One country’s domination of another country or people.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: Residential area, housing, project, and council estate.