Before the arrival of the British, the region now known as Nigeria was a collection of prosperous kingdoms and empires. The Nok civilization (500 BC – 200 AD) was known for their amazing terracotta carvings, laying the early foundations of what would become the cultural mosaics we know today. Later, the Oyo Empire, Benin Kingdom, and Sokoto Caliphate emerged, each with its own governance structure and unique culture. Back then, if you were to visit the Oyo Empire, you probably wouldn’t say “I’m going to Nigeria”, you’d say “I’m going to Oyo”. Each region considered itself a sovereign nation. .
Enter 19th century England. They looked at the area’s natural resources and thought, “Let’s bring all these people together and make one big colony.” In 1914, Nigeria was “created” by the merger of the Northern and Southern Protectorates.
It was as if someone had decided to throw a huge Nigerian wedding where none of the guests knew each other. Imagine being a Hausa person. At first glance, you suddenly find yourself sharing a table with an Igbo or a Yoruba.
Fast forward to today, Nigeria’s population is over 200 million people, broadly divided into three main ethnic groups: Hausa-Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), and Igbo (18%). Tiv, Kanuri, Nupe. For years, these groups have struggled to find common ground, with tensions rising over who gets how many slices of the national cake. What are the most controversial topics? Control of oil resources, representation in government, and especially religious differences between the Muslim-majority north and the Christian-majority south.
Tribalism often hindered nation-building among Nigerians. During elections, we often hear the phrase “he is our son,” which means “we will vote for him because he is from our people.” This mindset undermines national unity and promotes short-term ethnocentric goals. Indeed, Nigeria’s first decades of independence were marred by military coups, many of which were driven by ethnic and regional interests. The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) was a direct result of ethnic tensions, and the Igbo-dominated southeast region attempted to secede as Biafra. This war caused more than 1 million casualties and left deep scars that still affect national politics.
India and Nigeria are examples of countries that are not yet developed as nations, and there are many reasons for this. India is very pluralistic. There are more than nine major religions and countless lesser-known religions, more than 12,858 political parties, and 2,700 languages, none of which have been adopted as a common language. Nigeria is very similar to India in that respect.
● Both share strong divisions along ethnic, religious, and partisan lines.
●Clashes between tribes and religions are constantly occurring.
● Both share struggles over geopolitical advantage and polarized cultural differences.
China, France, Russia, Ethiopia, and Egypt are examples because of their high levels of domestic consensus on issues such as foreign policy, culture and socio-economics, political ideology, and religious temperament. This is not to say that a nation cannot grow and become a nation. The United States is a true example of how a highly diverse collection of people and territories can grow as a nation over time and successfully export its values to the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, nation-building involves redesigning a country, developing a distinct ideology and identity for the country, and better positioning the country to meet national demands while promoting peace within its borders. It can be inferred that it involves a series of actions and events aimed at placing. Strategic interests beyond borders. It is the strengthening of institutions that foster unity between different stakeholders, ethnicities and political groups. Often a select type of education is deployed, which is an intangible asset of the people. This is where emotional intelligence comes in handy.
Now, always the optimist, Nigerians often joke about ethnic differences, but sometimes that humor reveals deeper issues. You may hear a Yoruba man say, “You can’t outsmart a Yoruba man!” or the Igbo joke, “Igbo people always find a way to make money.” These light-hearted stereotypes are funny in social situations, but they also hint at the stereotypes people have about each other. I’m doing it. The truth is that many Nigerians struggle to see themselves as “Nigerian” first and foremost, above and beyond their ethnic identity. Imagine what would happen if instead of asking, “What state are you from?” you asked, “What state are you from?” A frequently asked question was: “What have you done for Nigeria today?”
Nation building goes beyond economic policies and political institutions. It requires a deep understanding of human behavior, emotions, and relationships. Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others, is essential to fostering unity, resolving conflict, and building inclusive societies. In a diverse country like Nigeria, ethnic, religious and cultural differences often cause tension, but applying emotional intelligence can bridge the gap and foster collective efforts towards national development. You can.
About Dr. Abiola Salami
Dr. Abiola Salami is the convener of the Dr. Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp and Peak PerformerTM Festival. He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP, a full-fledged professional services firm trusted by high-performing business leaders to provide executive coaching, workforce development and advisory services. To improve performance. Contact his team at (email protected) and connect with @abiolachamp on all social media platforms.
