Colonialism and Erosion of Indigenous Extended Family Support Systems for Elderly Care in Idunmwowina community Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Nigeria's traditional family structure, which served as the foundation for the country's native communal shelter and elderly care systems, have been altered by the colonial reforms of Nigerian societal organisations. This study examined the nature of traditional extended family support systems for elderly individuals and explores how colonialism and urban migration have transformed native patterns of caregiving and intergenerational care system. In order to fully comprehend older people's perspectives and experiences with the evolution of supportive family networks, the paper used a qualitative research approach. 50 respondents were sampled consisting of 35 participants who were involved in in-depth interviews, 12 participants who participated in focus group discussions, and 3 key informants, including a chief and two chief makers, all of whom were at least 60 years old and older. Thematic analysis of the data was done, and the study topic was explained using disengagement theory. The results showed that prior to colonialism, older people had esteemed roles in the family and community and benefited from considerable group assistance via the family unit structure. The study also discovered that colonization had a major impact on family disintegration, rural-urban migration, diminishing kinship relationships, and rising individualistic behaviour, all of which decreased family caregiving responsibilities. Thus, colonialists undermined support networks for senior citizens in the Ovia North-East Local Government Area and altered indigenous African familial structures. Better social protection services, a resurgence of neighborhood values, local-based senior support networks, and greater family accountability for aging parents were all suggested by the research.