Between ethnicity, nationality and development in Nigeria

Abstract

While it is possible for ethnicity through exclusivism to truncate socio-political and economic development in a multi-ethnic state, the recognition of every ethnic group that they belong to a nationality and not a particular ethnic group stems the negative impacts of ethnicity. This study examines the interplay between ethnicity, nationality and development in Nigeria. From the empirical evidences around the world, the study concludes that a political project that place emphasis on national integration and understanding as well as inclusion of every ethnic group in national governance is significantly a political tool to curtailing the negative impact of ethnicity in a multi-ethnic state; the product of which is socio-political and economic development.

Keywords

• Ethnicity
• Nationality
• Exclusion
• Development
• Inclusion