THE MEDIATING ROLE OF IGBO TRADITIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN THE REHABILITATION OF STREET CHILDREN

The title of this paper is the mediating role of Igbo traditional social security system (ITSSS) in the rehabilitation of street children. People of all cultures cherish their children and envisage a proper upbringing for them. The Igbo nation also desire healthy socialization and education of their children. The socialization and education may be undertaken by either the immediate family or by the extended family members and this defines the, communal life of the Igbo. As a result of this, the Igbo traditional Social Security, System was put in place to help out families that were faced with the risks accruing from poverty, ill health, disability, loss of job and so on. Along the line, some social factors disrupted this communal bond and its disintegration started to the point that stranded children from poor homes could find no help any more outside their stranded family. So these children finding no help any more, drift into the street and lives as street children. The study took place in Onitsha South and Onitsha North L.G.As, to find out whether rehabilitation exercise can help bring street children out of street life. Eighty six street children, 76 males and 10 females were interviewed, also interviewed were 42 adult male beneficiaries of ITSSS. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study made use of mixed descriptive survey design as oral interview was made us of Availability sampling technique was used to collect data from respondents. Three set of interview schedules were constructed and used. Analysis of data was done using percentages, means and standard deviation. T-test was used to test the two null hypotheses. The results of t-test showed that in hypothesis number one is no significant difference between the mean scores of male and female street children on the extent ITSSS can mediate in the rehabilitation of street children. The result of number two hypothesis showed that there is significant difference between the mean scores of street children and those of adult beneficiaries on the extent ITSSS can mediate in the rehabilitation of street children. Discussion, conclusion and recommendations were made at the end of the study