The Realism of Nigerian Nationalism and the Challenges of Nationhood, 1922-2015

Abstract

Nigeria is a product of British adventure in Africa which was actualized by the Berlin Conference of 1884/5. The conference legalized British colonial control over Nigeria. But this was not to last  for too long as Nigerians began agitations for self rule. Nigeria’s educated elite spearheaded the struggle for self-rule and to achieve nationhood. Thus, Nigeria’s nationalism was a reality that ended colonialism in 1960 but her transition to nationhood has been hampered by several challenges. In less than a decade of Nigeria’s independence, however, her transition to nationhood was interrupted by a military coup in 1960. This episode later triggered a civil war that lasted for thirty months. Thus, Nigeria’s journey to nationhood can at best be described as a challenge. This paper, therefore, considers the realism of Nigeria’s nationalism and her painful transition to nationhood. The paper acknowledges that there are so many factors that have punctuated Nigeria’s transition to nationhood, but the greatest of them all are ethnicity, military intervention, inequality, etc. The paper adopts the historical method in its analysis. It submits, however, that Nigeria’s
transition to nationhood can only be achieved if the challenges of marginalization, exploitation, inequality and unemployment which hamper nation building is addressed and reduced to their barest minimum. It therefore, recommends a holistic approach by Nigeria’s political leaders and policy makers toward achieving nation building by giving every ethnic nationality a sense of belonging.