External Influence on Nigerian Family Life – Basic 6 Social Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

External influences on Nigerian family life are the ideas, practices and beliefs from outside traditional Nigerian culture that change how families live.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define external influence and give examples that affect Nigerian families.
2. Compare traditional and modern ways of life in language, family system, behaviour, food, music and education.
3. Explain how religion affects marriage and relationships in the family.
4. State the positive and negative effects of working parents on family life.
5. Suggest ways working parents can care for their children well.

What are the external influences on Nigerian family life?

The main external influences are language, family system, behaviour, food, music, education, religion and working parents.

• Language: English and foreign slang are used alongside local languages.
• Family system: nuclear families are becoming common.
• Behaviour: greetings and attitudes to elders are changing.
• Food: fast food and foreign dishes are added to local meals.
• Music: foreign styles and instruments mix with traditional music.
• Education: formal Western schooling has joined apprenticeship.
• Religion: Christianity and Islam shape marriage and family values.
• Working parents: both parents often work outside the home.

How has language influenced Nigerian family life?

English has become the main language in many homes, and it has reduced the use of local languages.

Impact on the family

• Negative: some children cannot speak their native language.
• Negative: children feel cut off from their culture (cultural disconnect).
• Positive: English helps national unity because people from different ethnic groups can understand one another.

How has the family system changed?

The Nigerian family system is moving from the extended family to the nuclear family.

• Extended family: parents, children, grandparents, uncles and aunts living together.
• Nuclear family: parents and their children only.

Impact on the family

• Negative: there is less family support.
• Negative: children miss the wisdom of grandparents.
• Positive: members have more independence.

How has the behaviour of family members changed?

Behaviour in many homes has moved from strict respect and obedience to a freer and more casual style.

Impact on the family

• Disrespect: some people see questioning elders as bad manners.
• Confidence: others see it as a sign of confidence.
• Generation gap: the gap between parents and children grows wider.

How has food changed in Nigerian families?

Many families now eat fast food and foreign dishes as well as local meals.

Impact on the family

• Negative: less time is spent cooking traditional meals.
• Negative: too much fast food can cause health problems such as obesity.
• Negative: children lose cooking skills.
• Positive: families enjoy more variety.

How has music influenced Nigerian family life?

Foreign music styles and instruments now compete with traditional folk music in many homes.

Impact on the family

• Negative: youths prefer foreign music.
• Negative: knowledge of traditional music is lost.
• Positive: fusion music such as Afrobeats is created.

How has education changed family life?

Formal Western education has joined traditional learning, and it now takes up much of a child’s time and the family’s money.

Impact on the family

• Positive: literacy is better.
• Positive: there are more career opportunities.
• Negative: children learn fewer practical skills.
• Negative: education is expensive.

What are the major religions in Nigeria?

There are three major religions in Nigeria: Christianity, Islam and Traditional African Religion.

• Christianity: followers worship in churches.
• Islam: followers worship in mosques.
• Traditional African Religion: beliefs and customs handed down through families and communities.

How does religion influence marriage patterns?

Each religion shapes the type of wedding, the number of spouses allowed and the customs followed.

Christian influence

• Church wedding: often called a white wedding.
• Monogamy: a man marries one wife.
• Vows: the couple promise faithfulness before God.
• Certificate: a marriage certificate is issued.

Islamic influence

• Mosque wedding: the Nikah.
• Polygamy: a man may marry up to four wives, if he can treat them fairly.
• Marriage contract: a religious agreement between the couple.
• Mahr: a gift the groom gives to the bride.

Traditional influence

• Traditional wedding: held according to the culture of the people.
• Bride price: paid by the groom’s family.
• Family involvement: both families take part.
• Cultural ceremonies: songs, dances and customs.

Modern reality

• Many ceremonies: many couples hold all three kinds of wedding.
• Court wedding: often added.
• Cost: celebrations are expensive.

How does religion influence relationships between family members?

Religion teaches love, respect and duty among family members, and it gives each person a defined role.

• Respect for parents: all the religions teach this.
• Love between siblings: brothers and sisters are taught to love one another.
• Care for the elderly: children look after old parents.
• Forgiveness and peace: family members are taught to settle quarrels.

Christian teaching

• “Honour your father and mother.”
• The husband is the head of the home.
• The wife submits to her husband.
• Children obey their parents.

Islamic teaching

• “Paradise lies at the feet of mothers” is a saying often quoted to show how much mothers are honoured.
• Respect for parents is compulsory.
• Family roles are clear.
• Children obey their parents.

Impact on the family

• Strong bonds: shared beliefs bring family members close.
• Defined roles: each person knows their duties.
• Conflict: it can arise when members hold different views.

How does religion influence the general behaviour of the family?

Religion teaches values that guide how family members live and make decisions.

• Honesty: telling the truth.
• Hard work: earning a living honestly.
• Kindness: caring for others.
• Prayer and worship: praying and worshipping together.
• Charity: giving to the needy.
• Moral living: doing what is right.

Impact on the family

• It shapes family values.
• It influences decisions.
• It affects lifestyle choices.
• It creates a moral foundation.

What are the effects of working parents on Nigerian family life?

Working parents earn money for the family, but their absence from home can affect the children.

Positive effects

• More income: a better standard of living, good education, better healthcare and a comfortable home.
• Role model: children see hardworking parents, get career inspiration and learn about gender equality and independence.
• Economic security: two incomes are safer than one, bills are easier to pay, savings are possible and financial stress is less.

Negative effects

• Inadequate attention to children: parents are busy, give less help with homework and miss school events. Children may feel neglected.
• Use of baby sitters or house help: people outside the family help raise the children. There is a risk of poor treatment, different values are taught and parent-child bonding is weaker.
• Daycare: very young children spend long hours away from parents with several caregivers. It is expensive and infections can spread.
• Home management problems: the house may be untidy, there are fewer home-cooked meals and families rely on fast food. Tired parents bring stress home.
• Emotional effects: children may feel abandoned, show behaviour problems, seek attention in wrong ways or become more attached to house help than to parents.

What can working parents do to care for their children better?

Working parents can balance work and family by planning time, choosing good care and keeping in touch.

1. Give quality time: spend weekends together, eat dinner as a family, tell bedtime stories and visit the school when possible.
2. Use flexible work: work from home, flexible hours, job sharing or part-time work where available.
3. Arrange reliable childcare: choose trustworthy caregivers, ask family members to help, use good daycare centres and supervise regularly.
4. Keep communicating: make phone and video calls during the day, leave notes in lunch boxes and show love often.

Evaluation

1. Name three external influences on Nigerian family life.
2. How has language been influenced by external factors?
3. State two positive effects of working parents.
4. How does religion influence marriage patterns?
5. What is the difference between the traditional and the modern family system?

Multiple choice questions

1. The traditional Nigerian family system is ________.
   1. Nuclear family
   2. Extended family
   3. Single parent
   4. No family
2. Working parents provide ________.
   1. Less money
   2. More income for the family
   3. No benefits
   4. Only problems
3. External influence on food includes ________.
   1. Only local food
   2. Fast food and foreign dishes
   3. No food
   4. Traditional food only
4. A negative effect of working parents is ________.
   1. More money
   2. Inadequate attention to children
   3. Better life
   4. Good education
5. Religion influences ________.
   1. Nothing
   2. Marriage patterns and family behaviour
   3. Only food
   4. Only clothes

Answers: 1.b 2.b 3.b 4.b 5.b

Assignment

Draw a table comparing the traditional and modern family systems with three differences. Then explain one advantage and one disadvantage of working parents.