One Hundred Years of Nationhood and the Challenges of Nation Building in Nigeria.

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine one hundred years of Nigerian existence and the challenges of nationbuilding. Some literatures on the subject were reviewed while data analyses are from secondary sources. The elite theory was used to explain the issues therein. The paper reveals that since the amalgamation of Northern and southern protectorate in 1914 into a single entity by Lord Lugard, the country has been struggling on how to effectively build the nation with series of problems spanning from bad governance, socio-economic inequality, federal character dilemma, ethno-religious crises, corruptions, leadership, etc. These obstacles have over the years threatened our national integration principle which is based on building a strong and prosperous nation irrespective of our differences. The paper concludes that no task at genuine nationhood, integration and development is more urgent than rebuilding the bonds of intergroup spirit and cohesion that has been cruelly sundered in the past hundred years of amalgamation and nationhood. We must not continue to allow peoples lacking a sense of national purpose to champion our existence as a nation. The paper however, recommends that for us to live in harmony as one nation we must work tirelessly towards producing a nationalistic and a patriotic leader devoid of ethnic or religious affiliation. Efforts should be channel to foster intercultural dialogue and understanding so as to avoid conflict among intergroup which are ingredients of conflict prevention.