Major Ethnic Groups In Nigeria Research Articles

Intersection of African Indigenous and Christian Ethics in Fanny Crosby's Hymns: Yoruba Cultural Perspective

This study set within the context of Yoruba cultural perspective, explores the complex mantle of African indigenous and Christian ethics embedded in the hymns of Fanny Crosby(1820–1915). Bridging the gap in the literature that have analyzed Crosby'sdeep-rooted work in Christian theology, the author sargue that the ethical values and moral teachings epitomized in her hymns significantly resonates the indigenous ethics of the Yoruba people, one of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Through a qualitative analysis of four of Fanny Crosby's hymns, this study identifies thematic counterparts between Crosby's Christian ethics and the Yoruba concepts of "ìtẹŕ íba" (submission), "ojúàánú" (mercy), "ìfẹń iarajin" (commitment), and "ìfẹ"́ (love) which form the philosophy of interpersonal relationships and community life of indigenous people. The methodology of the study combines ethnographic study with the matic and interpretive phenomenological analysis to evaluate the ethical connotation of the sampled hymns that agrees with Yoruba moral values. The findings opined that while Crosby's hymns communicate Christian ethical values, its translation to Yoruba language echoes the indigenous moral imperatives of indigenous people, thereby encouraging a cross-cultural ethical interaction. The study contributes to the broader discourse on intercultural theology and ethics and opens new avenues for investigating the influence of African indigenous thought on Christian practices.

Association of Cannabinoid-receptor 1 gene with Chronic Polysubstance Use among Nigerian Male Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse and association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Cannabinoid-Receptor 1 (CNR1) gene with chronic polysubstance use among the Nigerian male commercial vehicle drivers selected from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. A-10-Panel Generic Multi Drug Urine Dip Card Test Kit was used in the study and four SNPs (rs2023239, rs806378, rs806379 and rs806381)in CNR1 were genotyped in 60 subjects (20 drivers from each ethnic group) by using Sequenom MassARRAY Genotyping System. The four target SNPs revealed the following genotypes namely rs2023239: CC (20%), CT (40%), TT (40%); rs806378: CC (100%); rs806379: AA (20%), AT (50%), TT (30%); rs806381: AA (50%), GA (50%) in cases among the Hausa drivers. However, among the Igbo drivers, the four target SNPs showed the following genotypes namely rs2023239: CC (20%), CT (40%), TT (40%); rs806378: CC (80%) CT (20%); rs806379: AA (10%), AT (50%), TT (40%) and rs806381: AA (30%), GA (70%) in cases. Additionally, the target SNPs also revealed the following genotypes namely rs2023239: CC (30%), CT (30%), TT (40%); rs806378: CC (90%), CT (10%); rs806379: AA (10%), AT (60%), TT (30%) and rs806381: AA (70%), GA (20%), GG (10%) in cases among the Yoruba drivers. The SNPs rs2023239, rs806378 and rs806381 were significantly linked with polysubstance and chronic cannabis use in the sample population (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) (p˂0.05). The SNP rs806379 associated significantly with polysubstance and chronic cannabis use in the Igbo drivers only (p˂0.05). Conclusively, this study provides probably the first data on the association of CNR1genetic polymorphism with chronic polysubstance use among Nigerian male commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Tribalism: A Thorny Concern in Nigerian Politics–A Discursive Review and Appraisal

This paper conducts a review and appraisal of discourse surrounding tribalism, which is deeply entrenched in Nigerian politics at different levels of government as the polity of the country has often experienced significant tension along tribal/ethnic lines. Using digital media data, with specific focus on discourses produced during the 2023 general elections in the country, this study reviews and analyses the discourse of tribalism in Nigerian political communication. In an election heavily contested by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party (LP), with candidates representing three major ethnic groups in Nigeria involving Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo respectively, the entrenched nature of the tribalism mindset in the country was fully exposed. Although tribalism in Nigerian politics has been in existence for a long time, it was only recently witnessed on a large scale on social media given that it is the first time that three popular presidential candidates have emerged from the country’s three most popular ethnic groups. Through a multimodal discourse analysis, the study reveals instances of tribalist discourse in the country vis-à-vis the social context and implications for the democracy, national cohesion, and the development of the country.

Considering the lip print patterns of Ibo and Hausa Ethnic groups of Nigeria: checking the wave of ethnically driven terrorism

IntroductionLip print of an individual is distinct and could be a useful form of evidence to identify the ethnicity of a terrorist.ObjectivesThe study analyzed the distribution of lip print patterns of two major ethnic groups in Nigeria; Ibo and Hausa, to develop a strategic plan to check the wave of ethnically driven terrorism in Nigeria, carried out by groups such as Boko Haram and Indigeneous People of Biafra (IPOB).Materials and methodsThe study comprised 800 participants of Ibo and Hausa ethnic groups (400 males and 400 females). The study adopted a digital method of lip print analysis and followed the guidelines outlined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for anthropometric measurements. The lip was classified, using Tsuchihashi and Suzuki method of classification.ResultsThe predominant lip print patterns of Ibo were Type I with complete vertical groove and Type III with intersect of groove for male and Type III for female. Type I’ with partial length groove was the predominant pattern for both male and female Hausa. The lip width and height of female Ibo were longer than that of the Hausa counterpart (P < 0.05), but none of the anthropometric variables could predict the lip print pattern.ConclusionThe lip size and print could aid forensic investigation, though genetic diversity and heterogeneity of ethnic groups in Nigeria, especially that of Ibo, could setback use of lip print pattern to identify the ethnicity of an unknown individual in Nigeria to help determine the terrorist group to which they may belong.

Auricular Parameters: A Tool for Stature, Gender and Ethno-facial Determination in a Nigerian Population.

Background: The auricle is a defining feature with the capacity for facial identification, age estimation, and gender determination. This study was designed to establish auricular parameters as a possible tool for identification. Methods: The purposive sampling method was used to randomly select 150 males and 150 females such that each of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba was represented by 100 individuals. Results: Sexual dimorphism was established in all auricular parameters except right lobular length. Auricular parameters varied significantly among the ethnic groups. All the auricular parameters except left lobular length correlated significantly with stature, no significant correlation was noted between auricular parameters and nasal parameters. Facial height correlated significantly with both right and left auricular lengths. Conclusion: Auricular parameters are good predictors of ethnicity, stature, and gender. They can also be used to determine some facial parameters.

ETHNICITY CLASSIFICATION USING A DYNAMIC HORIZONTAL VOTING ENSEMBLE APPROACH BASED ON FINGERPRINT

Today, there is a fierce rivalry between ethnic groups in Nigeria on a number of issues, such as the division of power and resources, aversion to dominance, and uneven growth. Ethnicity as an identity naturally occupies a prominent position in the political arena. It is the simplest and most natural way for people to mobilize around essential human needs such as security, food, shelter, economical well-being, inequity, land distribution, autonomy, and recognition. Recent research has revealed the potential to determine an individual's ethnicity based on biometric data automatically. These studies reported significant advancements in automatically predicting demographics based on facial and iris traits. This success has been ascribed to the availability of a sufficient amount of high-quality data. There needs to be more data about the likelihood that fingerprints can disclose an individual's ethnicity. A need for more data causes this difficulty. This study aims to obtain fingerprint pictures via live scan among the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. For training and classification of the fingerprint images, the proposed Dynamic Horizontal Voting Ensemble (DHVE) deep learning with a Hybrid of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) as the base learner was employed. Standard performance classification metrics such as Accuracy, Recall, Precision, and F1 score were used to evaluate the performance analysis of the model. This study demonstrated an accuracy of over 98% in predicting a person's ethnicity. Additionally, the proposed model outperformed existing state-of-the-art models. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Politics of conversion and inter-faith marriages among Christians and Muslims in Nigeria: An analysis in religious contest and conflict

Nigeria is a country where Christianity and Islam compete for dominance in the political realm. This competition which often degenerates into physical confrontation is rooted in the 1804 jihad tradition of the Fulani-driven Sokoto Caliphate which is founded on the immutable request for the conversion of their non-Muslim neighbours. Unfortunately, this quest found itself frontally confronted by the fledging advance of Christianity and westernization from the south, with both eventually meeting at the Middle Belt region, which is home to non-Hausa-Fulani minority ethnic groups. Although Islam in Yoruba land no doubt predated the Fulani Jihad of 1804, the later advent of Christianity in the 19th century with its superior sophistication, soon overwhelmed Islam there. Thus Islam subsequently found itself in retreat. With this retreat came resistance against the domineering influence of Western civilization which is often associated with Christianity. It consequently elicited a state of conversion and counter-conversion between these two competing religions which often extends to inter-personal relations, one of which is inter-marriage. The present work looks at the subject of this confrontation from the barometer of conversion through inter-marriages between members of both faiths. Focusing on the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria—the mainly Muslim Hausa-Fulani of the North, the mixed Christian-Muslim Yoruba of the West, and the mainly Christian Igbo of the East, it explores their respective trajectories of response to Christian-Muslim marriages within the context of their religious traditions and by extension assesses their respective levels of inter-religious tolerance and accommodation.

Challenges and Prospects of the Igala Movie Industry (Igawood) in the Quest for Global Relevance

Beyond the more popular indigenous movie industries from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria; Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, the Nigerian Movie Industry has witnessed the upsurge and establishment of more indigenous regional and ethnic movie industries. This development is born partly, out of the desire of indigenous Nigerian ethnic groups to tell their own respective stories; an effort towards sustaining the diverse culture which together, make one Nigeria, and also promote respective cultures globally. Adopting a qualitative design, this article examines the prospects and challenges of the Indigenous movie industry of the Igala ethnic group in Nigeria: Igawood in the quest for global relevance. The article projects that Igawood is an efficient tool for cultural integration, propagation, and sustenance, firstly, among people of the Igala ethnicity spread across the globe and also among other tribes of the world with an interest in the Igala culture. Among other challenges, the paper points at finance, the quest to make a profit, the star actor syndrome, relatively poor presence on satellite TV Networks, and lack of requisite technical know-how as factors militating against Igawood. The paper identifies the need for re-orientation and adequate technical training for players in the industry to meet up with the standard and global best practices.

The Novelist as a Historian: A Study of the Nigerian/Biafran War Account from the Perspective of Chukwuemeka Ikeh’s Sunset at Dawn

The novelist is a creator and a creative writer whose foundation is lodged in imaginative thinking. It is in the creative writer’s ability to recreate events, which had either taken place or could take place, through the use of fictive characters, and creative use of language. This study therefore introspects the events of the Nigerian/Biafra civil war from the perspective of the novelist as a historian, in doing this the study examines the events of the civil war from the literary perspectives and accounts of a literary giant Chukwu Emeka Ikeh’s Sunset at Dawn. Data for the study is collected from secondary sources, the text under study and other Nigerian/Biafran war novels, historical books about the civil war, and internet sources. The study adopted the theory of historicism as a frame work. It highlighted the civil war era from the perspective of the writer under study, from the beginning of the conflict to when it became a full-blown war, the killings, starvation, hunger and the end of the war. The study identified some of the remote causes of the war to be the fear of political domination among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, deep seated ethnic resentment and acrimony among others. This study recommends that similar situation in future can only be averted through power devolution, all- inclusive leadership style and equitable distribution of the nation’s resources.

PERCEIVED PERVASIVE DISCRIMINATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG A NIGERIA ETHNIC SAMPLE: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA

In recent times, there has been calls for restructuring of the Nigeria nation by people of diverse ethnic origins, especially the Igbos and the Yorubas in Southern Nigeria. Such calls have resulted in varying activities that may have caused Nigeria and Beninese governments to arrest Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Igbo) and Chief Sunday Adeyemo (Yoruba) security agencies respectively. Until now, the Igbos, Yorubas, and Hausa/Fulanis (constituting the major ethnic groups in Nigeria) have lived together in peace. It is generally assumed that the calls for regional independence that now pervades the polity must have been ignited by perceived lopsidedness in authoritative resource allocation; among others. This study therefore set out to find out whether perceived discrimination could be a factor for the call for restructuring among ethnic Nigerians. A survey research was conducted with 197 (101 males and 96 females with a mean age of 34.02 years) residents of Akinmorin community in Oyo State, Nigeria, using a questionnaire that comprise of the Everyday discrimination scale and Psychological well-being scale. Results of analyses of data revealed that perceived pervasive discrimination does not influence psychological well-being among research participants. However, it was found out that both purpose in life and positive relations with others are significantly influenced by perceived pervasive discrimination among research participants. Findings were discussed in line with available literature and recommendations were made.

Educational Challenges of School-Age Children in Skipped Generation Households in Nigeria

The article investigated educational challenges of Nigerian children raised in an unusual family context, the skipped generation households (SGHs). Specifically, it determined the proportion of school-age children in SGHs enrolled in schools and investigated children’s perception of the effect of SGHs on their education. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data were collected from 2144 indexed children from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The results showed that 88.2% of children in SGHs were enrolled in schools, and that significant regional variations existed in school attendance by the children. Specific educational challenges of the children in SGHs included having to do assignment alone, not getting enough time to study, difficulty in paying school fees, and late coming to school. The article brought to the fore the need for government to improve the welfare of children raised in SGHs in order to mitigate the educational challenges confronting them.

Variations in Facial Anthropometric Measurements among Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria: A 3-Dimentional Stereophotogrammetry Analysis

Objectives: The aim of the study is to highlight variations in facial anthropometric measurements among the major ethnic groups in Nigeria using 3D photogrammetry. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in Lagos, Nigeria. Acquisition of 3D facial photographs was done using a Vectra H1 portable 3D photogrammetry imaging system. Descriptive analysis of collected data was done and a test of associations performed using independent samples t-test. The level of significance was set at &lt;.05. Results: The total number of participants in this study was 503. The study population was made up of 302 (60%) males and 201 (40%) females. Mean upper facial height among Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other ethnic groups were 68.93 ± 5.85, 70.18 ± 5.99, 63.79 ± 4.80, and 69.29 ± 5.95 mm respectively, while mean interpupillary distances were 66.99 ± 3.70, 67.34 ± 3.56, 66.73 ± 3.80, and 67.09 ± 3.72 mm respectively. A Tukey posthoc test revealed significant pairwise differences for upper facial height between the Yoruba and Hausa population with a mean difference of 5.15 mm ( P &lt; .001, 95% CI 2.94-7.35) ( P &lt; .001, 95% CI 2.94-7.35), and Hausa and Igbo population with a mean difference of 6.39 mm ( P &lt; .001, 95% CI 3.75-9.03). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the presence of significant inter-ethnic differences between Hausa ethnic group and the Yoruba ethnic group for midfacial height ( P &lt; .001), upper lip height ( P = .004), lower lip height ( P = .003), total face height ( P = .010), and orbital fissure width ( P &lt; .001). Conclusion: The result of this study shows that distinct difference does exist in the facial anthropological measurements between the ethnicities included in this study especially in vertical facial measurements.

Are Older Adults a Burden on Society? Ethnic Differences in What Younger Nigerians Think

Ageism is on the rise in Nigeria. Recently congress passed a bill on “not too young to rule” a campaign to advocate for younger Nigerians to take over leadership positions from older political officeholders. This paper focuses on ethnic differences among Nigerians who think older adults are a burden on society. Our sample included 1,693 randomly selected Nigerians (18 yrs-59yrs) who were in wave six of the world values survey conducted in 2012 comprising of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria; Hausa (33%), Igbo (24%), and Yoruba (25%). Using multivariate logistic regression, results show that among the Hausas; life satisfaction, education, employment, gender, income, and geography predict bias towards older adults (OR=1.12*,.89*,.61*,.63*,1.12*,.74***) respectively. Among the Igbos; only education predicts bias towards older adults (OR=.75***). Among the Yorubas; income and geography predict bias towards older adults (OR=.86*, 1.20*) respectively. These findings underscore that several individual resources, as well as relationship status, are associated with a bias towards the elderly in Nigeria. The results reinforce the idea that the underlying causes of ageism might be structural such as political failure, poverty, illiteracy, and rurality. To change how younger generations, think of older adults, macro-level interventions and policies need to be implemented.

Ezi agamniihu na mmepe tọrọ atọ: ntụle usoro ọchịchị agbụrụ atọ Kacha Pụta ihe na Naịjirịa

Usoro ọchịchị dị nnukwu mkpa na ndụ agbụrụ ọ bụla. Ka agbụrụ si hazi usoro ọchịchị ha, tinyere ka ndị ọchịchị si achị na-eme ka obodo gaa n’ihu maọbụ laghachi azụ. Agbụrụ atọ kacha pụta ihe n’ala Naijirịa bụ, Igbo, Hausa na Yoruba nwere usoro ọchịchị ọdịnaala tupu a chịkọọ ha ọnụ dị ka otu obodo. Bido n’oge ahụ ruo taa, Naịjirịa enwebeghị udo tọrọ atọ. Ọ bụ ọnọdụ dị etu a kpalitere ederede a n’itụle usoro agbụrụ atọ ndị a si achị onwe ha n’otu n’otu nke mere na agbụrụ o bụla ka na-ahụta onwe ha dị ka otu agbụrụ dị iche n’agbụrụ ndị ọzọ. Nke a ga-enye aka iji tụpụta atụmatụ kacha mma ga-enyere ala anyị bụ Naịjirịa aka inweta udo na agamniihu bụ ịgba. Iji nweta ebumnoobi a, e nyochara ederede dị iche iche ma gbasoo usoro akụkụkọala. Nchọpụta gosiri na agbụrụ Hausa na agbụrụ Yoruba bụcha ndị na-agbaso usoro ọchịchị ndị eze chi ha chibere ebe agbụrụ Igbo na-agbaso usoro ọchịchị ọha. N’otu aka ahụ, ala Naịjirịa na-agbaso usoro ọchịchị onye kwuo uche ya, mana a chọpụtara na ha anaghị agbaso ya n’usoro ziri ezi. Ebe ọ dị etu a, ọ ga-aka mma ka e nye agbụrụ ọ bụla ikikere na ohere ịchị onwe ha, ka ọchịchị agbụrụ ọ bụla nwee ikikere karịa ọchịchị nke gọọmentị etiti ka nnwere onwe, agamniihu, mmepe, udo na ihụnaanya wee dị. N’otu aka ahụ ịkwafu ọbara, ịla ndụ na akụnaụba n’iyi ga-abụzị akụkọ mgbe ochie.&#x0D; Okwu Gbara Ọkpụrụkpụ: Agamniihu, Mmepe na Usoro Ọchịchị&#x0D; English AbstractThe method of leadership in the life of a nation is of great significance. This is because it is a strong determinant of a nation’s progress or downfall. A case in point is the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria – Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. The three had a uniọue, traditional leadership style prior to the 1914 amalgamation of northern and southern Nigeria. From then to now, Nigeria has not experienced lasting peace. It is against this backdrop that this research eụplores the leaedership styles of the three ethnic groups in so far as their leadership styles have guaranteed their living together as one hitherto. This study is purposed to seek out the possibility of borrowing a leaf from the style of leadership of the three ethnic groups to see how they can help Nigeria to enjoy lasting peace, progress and development. The research work is historical in nature. With it, this study throws a search light into the leadership of the three ethnic groups to emulate the secrets of their success over the years. The study finds out that Hausa and Yoruba operate a monarchical style of leadership, whereas the Igbo have a republican kind of leadership. It is not democracy in the real sense of it. Yet, Nigeria, who claims to practice democracy, has nothing to show for it; not true democracy. In view of this, therefore, this study advocates for a decentralized government in Nigeria, in which the confederal ethnic groups will be given the power to govern themselves, and the power wielded by the centre will be less. The eụpectation is that this governance type will help Nigeria to achieve eluding peace, progress and development.&#x0D; Key Words: Progress, Development and Leadership

Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use Among Nigerian Male Commercial Vehicle Drivers Selected from The Three Major Ethnic Groups in Nigeria

The use of psychoactive substances for several reasons by commercial vehicle drivers has been documented as a major cause of increased incidences of traffic accidents globally. The study aimed at determining the prevalence of psychoactive substance use among Nigerian male commercial vehicle drivers randomly selected from the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria (Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba). A structured questionnaire which included data on sociodemographic status and psychoactive drug use history was introduced to all participants. Generic Multi-Drug Urine Dip Card Test Kit and Shimadzu chromatograph system (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) were used for toxicological analyses. Out of the 264 Nigerian male commercial vehicle drivers who participated in this study, 111(42.0 %) had used illicit drugs in recent times, 55(20.8 %) took drugs for improved energy and 90(34.1 %) felt high after using illicit drugs. Marijuana was the most abused substance; 77(29.2 %) followed by benzodiazepine; 34(12.9) across all ethnicities studied. Across all ethnicities, HPLC revealed that the Hausa drivers had the highest concentration of psychoactive substances in their urine samples. These findings, reiterates the need for the Nigerian anti-drug agency to develop new strategies in conducting a repressive drug war and extending the same to bus stations.

Ethnic fertility behavior and internal migration in Nigeria: revisiting the migrant fertility hypotheses

Fertility patterns in Nigeria are high and widely skewed away from the targets of the country’s population policy. As population growth is fueled by natural increase and migration, and with spatial disparities in fertility preferences among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, this study investigates the fertility behavior of ethnic migrants in their destinations, the place-effects on such behavior, and the convergence or otherwise of the behavior with fertility behaviors in the migrants’ places of origin and destination. Explanations for the behavioral pattern are provided in the hypotheses of migrant fertility and in the sociodemographic confounders of the behavior. Study data was extracted for the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey. Median numbers of children ever born (CEB) were 7, 6, and 4 for the Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba ethnic groups respectively. Relative to the destination fertility patterns, Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba migrants had lower CEB in Igboland while Igbo and Yoruba migrants recorded lower CEB in the North-West home of the Hausa-Fulani ethnic group. Whereas the Igbo migrants maintained an equal CEB with their Yoruba hosts, the Hausa-Fulani group replicated their home fertility behavior in Yorubaland. Overall, the adaptation, socialization, and selectivity hypotheses were found valid for some of the disparities in migrant fertility behavior and the influence of the sociodemographic predictors of fertility behavior varied among the different ethnic groups.

EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN IN SKIPPED GENERATION HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

The paper examined the challenges of accessing education by Nigerian children raised in an unusual family context, the skipped generation households. Specifically, it determined the proportion of Nigerian school-age children in skipped generation households enrolled in the formal school system and investigated the children’s perception of the effect of living in skipped generation household on their education. The paper also ascertained regional differences in education challenges experienced by children in skipped generation households. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The research procedure involved the collection of primary data through the administration of a survey questionnaire on 2144 indexed children from three purposively selected states representing the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The results showed that 88.2% of Nigerian children in skipped generation households were enrolled in the formal school system, and that significant regional variations existed in school attendance by children in skipped generation households. Also, a substantial majority (74.1%) of grandchildren reported that living in SGHs had no negative effect on their academic performance. The specific education challenges of school-going children in skipped generation households included having to do assignment alone, not getting enough time to study, and difficulty in paying school fee. The results further indicated that the education challenges experienced by children in skipped generation households were significantly different across the selected states which constitute the study area. The paper highlighted the need for government to improve the welfare of older adults in Nigeria, especially those who serve as custodial grandparents for their grandchildren.

Contextual and Social Factors Influencing Male Fertility in Nigeria.

Objectives Fertility level remains relatively high in Nigeria. Currently, it peaks at about six children per woman. Many studies have suggested targeting men in family planning programs to reduce fertility levels, particularly in patriarchal societies. Nigeria, being a patriarchal and multiethnic society, males’ influence on fertility behavior remains indisputable. Thus, this study explores contextual factors, such as sociocultural norms, beliefs, preferences, and perceptions, that influence male fertility behavior across different ethnic groups in Nigeria. Design The study uses qualitative data that involved focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI) from three geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with each zone representing the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Six IDIs and four FGDs were conducted in each of the three selected regions among men making a total of 18 IDIs and 12 FGDs, respectively. The data were transcribed and exported to Atlas.ti software for analyses. Results Some of the beliefs and perceptions mentioned include influence of religion, polygamy, socioeconomic status, government policy, peer pressure, culture, and sex preference. These factors were found to vary considerably across tribes/ethnic groups. Conclusions Findings from this article show that there are other factors beyond individual factors that affect fertility behavior among men. Thus, there is a need to take into consideration the unique community structures in subsequent population-oriented social policy reviews and implementation to tackle high fertility behavior in Nigeria.

Dynamics of Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: An Impediment to its Political System

Without any form of prejudice, it is a fact that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic state with differences in its socio-political and economic development all of which have resulted in conflicts and counter conflicts. Ethnic politics in Nigeria’s political system have come to be a tragic and constant in Nigeria’s political system; where one must belong to the mainstream of ethnic politics for political relevance. It depicts attachments to the sub-national ethnic groups which threaten to undermine national integration and therefore divide the nation. Significantly, ethnicity in Nigeria was orchestrated by a long period of colonialism, a period which witnessed the ascendancy of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria to the socio-political domination of other ethnic groups. It was a period when the three major ethnic groups were used by the colonialist as a pedestal for the distribution of socio-political and economic goods. Using a mixed method, this work argues that Nigeria’s political problem hinges on the negative consequences of ethnic politics. The paper concludes that if Nigeria’s political system must progress, it must be anchored on the need for the review of the constitutional and political structure of Nigeria to restore healthy political competition as opposed to the existing outdated political mechanism imposed on Nigeria by the military under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ethnic disparities in fertility and its determinants in Nigeria

BackgroundHigh fertility rate has been consistently reported in Nigeria. The three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, Hausa/Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba have different socio-cultural identities particularly those that relate to fertility but fertility index is often reported at the national level. This paper examined ethnic differences in fertility and identified its determinants in Nigeria.MethodThis cross-sectional design study focused on 23,140 women aged 15–49 years. Fertility was measured from information on the full birth history of women of reproductive age. Fertility was assessed using descriptive statistics, parity progression ratio(PPR) and negative binomial model (α = 0.05).ResultsThe total fertility rate was 8.02, 4.91 and 4.43 among women in Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba ethnic group respectively. The proportion of women with ≥5 children was highest among the Hausa/Fulani (40%), followed by Igbo (21.6%) and Yoruba (17.5%). For women aged 45–49 years; the PPR was highest among Hausa/Fulani while Igbo and Yoruba exhibited a similar pattern. The mean fertility was 1.725(C.I = 1.661–1.792, p < 0.001) times higher among Hausa/Fulani than Yoruba women, but Igbo and Yoruba women exhibited a similar pattern. Controlling for other factors barely changes this pattern.ConclusionVariation existed in fertility across the main ethnic groups in Nigeria, but highest among Hausa/Fulani. Fertility reduction strategies that target improvement in women’s education will reduce the fertility rate in Nigeria, particularly among Hausa/Fulani women. Ethnicity is important in fertility reduction strategies in Nigeria.