History and the Quest for Unity in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the role of history in the search for unity in Nigeria. It notes that since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria in 1914, the polity has been battling forces of disunity including leadership bankruptcy, ethno-religious crises and the minority question. In order to address the challenge of disunity, successive governments of the country have put in place pro-unity measures such as national policy on education that would engender unity, National Youth Service Corps scheme, physical infrastructure, mass mobilization and ethnic balancing in the country's public service. The paper observes that the near exclusion of History from the primary and secondary school systems curricula is a minus for the national policy on education. Finally, the paper concludes that History holds the key to understanding the numerous challenges facing the country and recourse to the discipline would in no small way foster unity in the country.