IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY (AJHA )

E-ISSN 2579-048X
P-ISSN 2695-1851
VOL. 6 NO. 1 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/ajha.v6.no1.2022.pg72.89

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The Social Relevance of Indigenous Education as a Panacea to Communal Development and Transformation among the Indigenous Iruekpen People of Esan Society in Edo State, Nigeria

Dr. Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme (PhD)

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Abstract

Iruekpen community stands among other communities in Esan society. Before the coming of the Christian missionaries and colonial officials, Iruekpens had their own workable education, which was indigenized and productive in meeting all round needs of the community. The educational system prevalent at the time was it that every member of the community placed high value and emphasis. Thus, patriotism, communalism, respect, honesty, communalism, industriousness, creativity, innovation, inventiveness and spirit of neighborliness and so forth become the characteristic hallmarks of every member of the community. This paper, therefore, examines the social relevance of Iruekpen indigenous education as a panacea to her development and transformation in the period. Again, it examines how the aim of indigenous Iruekpen education is to produce an individual who is skilled, supportive, respectable, and honest and conforms to the social norms of the community. The education structure taught the Iruekpen child to have a sense of belongingness, which thus patterns a child toward an effective and desirable life in the community. It depicts the peace and harmony prevalent at the time whereby unemployment, laziness and corruption were never visible all because every child was educationally equipped in his/her career and vocation. It concluded by recommending that value developments education should be included in all curriculum of education at all levels. Likewise, parents should be role models for their children. The methodology adopted in the writing of this paper is the historical method. The main sources for this study will be primary and secondary sources. The primary sources constitute documents, oral traditions, and field notes. The secondary source is a work of historical reconstruction based on the interpretation of primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include scholarly journal article, encyclopedia, dictionaries, interpretation of a diary, biogr

keywords:

Social Relevance, Education, Panacea, Communal Development, Transformation, Indigenous Iruekpen, Esan Society

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References:

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Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Educational Imperativeness in a Changing Traditional Esan
Society: An Example of Iruekpen Community”, Unpublished Master Thesis Seminar
Presentation, Department of History, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, January 16, 2004.

Enato, Lucky Success Ehimeme. “Our Education, Our Heritage: Iruekpen Indigenous Education
Reflecting Change and Transformation” Unpublished Seminar Presentation, Master of
Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 2004
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Political and Religious Growth and Development in the Period before the Europeans
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