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POVERTY and WELFARE in COLONIAL NIGERIA, 1900-1954 By POVERTY AND WELFARE IN COLONIAL NIGERIA, 1900-1954 by UYILAWA USUANLELE A thesis submitted to the Department of History in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Queen’s University Kingston, Ontario, Canada September 2010 Copyright © Uyilawa Usuanlele, 2010 ABSTRACT This study examines the interface of poverty and development of state welfare initiatives colonial Nigeria. It attempts to unravel the transformation and the nature and character of poverty afflicting majority of Nigerians since the period immediately preceding colonialism and under colonial rule. It looks at the causes and manifestations of poverty as well as the nature of social welfare in pre-colonial Nigerian societies in relation to the new forms of poverty that British Colonial policies visited on the society. Poverty in the colonial period is shown to have been caused by changes in power relations and accompanying administrative and economic reorganization of the society which facilitated the diversion of labour, resources and surplus produce from family and household use to the colonial state, firms and their agents. This new form of poverty was manifested in the loss of family and household self-sufficiency and the inability to meet personal survival needs and obligations, making the majority unable to participate fully in the affairs of their communities. This dissertation looks at how the British Colonial State tried to achieve its objective of exploitation and deal with the problem of poverty in its various manifestations using indigenous institutions and practices and other non- indigenous strategies in the face of growing African resistance and declining productivity. It argues that over-aching strategy of development represented by the Colonial Development and Welfare Act of 1940 and subsequent amendments and community development were designed to co-opt the emergent civil society into acquiescence with the social system and contain further resistance, and as such could not provide welfare nor alleviate the problem of poverty. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Ph.D. degree of which this thesis is only a part was accomplished through the special grace of God. My program also benefited much from the friendship, intellectual insight, generous assistance and kindness of people so many that space would not permit me to mention all of them. If your name is omitted here, please be rest assured of my eternal gratitude and thanks. My thanks go to my wife and children who endured my five years absence and denied my constant attention. My mother, brothers, and sisters as well as my father-in - law, sister-in-law and numerous cousins and friends who cared and stood by my family and looked after my late father Pa Richard Asenoguan Usuanlele (1923-2008). I acknowledge the prayers of my late father and my late brother Nosakhare Ikponmwosa. Usuanlele (1978-2007) I am eternally indebted to my adviser, Prof. Robert W. Shenton and his wife Dr. Christine Brown. They not only opened their home to me and endured the inconvenience of my impromptu visits. Bob deserves special thanks for his tolerance and patience (in painstakingly wading through the mass of materials) rigorous questioning, advice and suggestions that helped shape this work. My gratitude goes to Prof. Onaiwu W. Ogbomo of Western Michigan University who rekindled my interest in studying abroad and paid my application fee, Prof. Jeremiah Dibua of Morgan State University, and my former teacher, Prof. Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin.They have always been there for me. I also received intellectual nourishment and mentoring from some of the faculty members of history department particularly Professors Colin Duncan, Marguerite Van die, Marc Epprecht, ii James Casey. Professors Greenfield, Sandra Den Otter, Ariel Salzmann, Barrington Walker, Emily Hill and David Parker, who were always concerned about the progress of my program. Prof. Vilia Jeffremovas of Development Studies was also at hand too to advise and comments on some of my papers. I also acknowledge the friendship, assistance and intellectual contributions of my fellow students- Ahmed Aminu Yusuf (brother and comrade), Arthur Syahuka-Muhindo, Ivan Stoiljkovic, Tiffany Jones, Milen Jissov, Toby Moorsom, Cheryl des Roches, Donald Sankey, Michel Beaulieu, Gabriel Alalade, Guy Tegomo, and Bom Wicheng. I thank my brothers, sisters and their spouses who provided the material assistance, comfort and moral boost throughout the program namely: Mrs. Helen Ighile and husband, Nosa (Kansas, Mo) Mr. and Mrs. Omoruyi Usuanlele (Chicago Illinois), Bintia Osayimwen and husband, Ise (Boston), Noruwa Maggi and Dereck Obazee, Mrs. Cynthia Ikhuoria and husband, Ben and Agharese and her husband, Egberanmwen who provided accommodation, food and bus passes in UK. In Nigeria, my sisters, Eson (Mrs.) Violet I. Adun and her husband, HRH Adun Oyemwense Iyi- Ewuare, Enogie of Ohovbe, and Mrs. Ehiozogie Idahosa and her husband, Sir Thomas Idahosa. I also acknowledge the support of my brother Ademola Usuanlele of Edmonton, Alberta. I cannot also forget to thank my cousin, Dr Nowa Omoigui of South Colombia and friends Dr Bonny Ibhawoh of McMaster University, Dr Pius Adesanmi and Amato Ede of Carleton University and Biggy Iyore Osagie of Vancouver, B. C., Canada. In Nigeria, I received the assistance of Dr Victor Edo and Dr Sola Olorunyomi of University of Ibadan and Mr. Mike Oyelude of Chachangi Airlines, Kaduna, Dr Kazah Toure Kazah of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Mallam Ado Yahuza of NCAC, Kaduna and Engineer iii Kennedy Aimiuwu of Ken Associates, Abuja. Aiko Obobaifo, Ogie Ogedegbe, Henry Legemah, Dr Festus Imuetinyan, Donald Odemwingie and late Chaka Friday Ajayi were at hand in Benin City, Nigeria with transportation and other nourishments. My special thanks go also to Mrs. Yvonne Place (Graduate Assistant, History Department, Queen’s University) whose dedication to duty, concern and kindness eased the administrative bottlenecks. I also acknowledge the support of the staff of the History Department namely Deborah Stirton-Massey (Secretary), Cathy Fehr and Cindy Dickison. I cannot forget to thank the staff of Stauffer Library, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; National Archives, Ibadan and Kaduna, Nigeria, National Archives; Kew Gardens, London, Rhodes House Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK; Arewa House Library, Kaduna, Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Benin Traditional Council Archives, Benin City, Nigeria. My thanks also goes to my mentor Geraldine Forbes, Distinguished Teaching Professor at SUNY Oswego and her husband Prof Skip for their continued assistance and support at SUNY, Oswego. I thank my colleagues in the Department of History, SUNY, Oswego, NY. I finally thank the government and People of Canada for the scholarship award that brought me (and later) my family to Canada. To the numerous people I met in Kingston, Ontario, I say thank you for your friendship, warmth and kindness which has helped me and family make a home in Canada. iv DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my mother, Mrs Lydia Ekorowiro Usuanlele (nee Aghedo), my children, Osariuyimen, Osamuedemen, Osayuware, Osazomwanogie and Izirouwa and my wife, Ugiomotiti Mary-Theresa Alero Usuanlele (nee Obazee). This thesis is also dedicated to the memories of my late father, Pa Asenoguan Richard Usuanlele (1924-2008) and my late brother, Nosakhare Ikponmwonsa Usuanlele (1978- 2007). v Table of Contents Abstract i Acknowledgements ii Dedication v Table of Contents vi List of Tables vii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 CHAPTER 2: Poverty and Welfare in Nigerian Society on the eve of the Establishment of Colonial Rule 7 CHAPTER 3: Colonial Reorganization, Social Dislocations, Exploitation and Transformation of Poverty, 1900-1939 43 CHAPTER 4: European Survival and Administrative Needs- Induced Social Services, 1900- 1939 114 CHAPTER 5: The State, Poverty and Emergent Social Problems before WW II, 1900-1939 180 CHAPTER 6: Tinkering with Welfare and Development Before and During WW II 270 CHAPTER 7: Development Planning and the Retreat From Welfare in the Era of Nationalism, 1945-1954 348 Chapter 8: Conclusion 440 Bibliography 445 Appendix 1 - Tables 489 Appendix 2 – Maps 490 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Title Page 1 Number of Schools and Children attending school in Nigeria (1937) 178 2 Expenditure for Assisted schemes (in ₤) financed with both CDA and Nigerian funds 274 3 Grants to 1938 275 4 Register Unemployed and School leavers and Job placement by Lagos Juvenile Employment Exchange April and May 1944 329 5 School Attendance by region, in 1954 382 6 School Attendance by region, 1954-57 384 7 Record of Registration and Placement of School leavers by Lagos Advisory Committee on Juvenile Employment and After-Care 422 vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION There is no person in our rural areas as far as I know that does not know what he will eat tomorrow morning. Now there is poverty, yes. But there is no abject poverty. We had 42 percent (poverty rate) in 1992. And by 1996 we went up to 70 percent. We haven’t had a war. We haven’t had an epidemic. We haven’t had four years of drought. What took off as 42 percent in 1992 went up to 70 percent in 1996. We haven’t really changed our economy? If it was the time we moved from non-structural adjustment to structural adjustment, you could say this. And we have all been parroting this. Where did we get it? Where? How can you substantiate it? The Federal Office of Statistics (FOS) I know is working on poverty level figures. Don’t let us dramatize what does not need to be dramatized. Olusegun Obasanjo, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in “Obasanjo faults World Bank, others on poverty levels in Nigeria” The Guardian, (Nigeria online www.ngrguardiannews.com) 11 November, 2004. The central problem, the improvement of village life, is being tackled by the various educational agencies…. There are no uncared for children where the strength of African kinship is unimpaired.
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