Pages: (47-62 )
Abstract
Post-independence Nigeria like other parts of sub-Saharan Africa continues to face the challenge of internal unity amongst the disparate groups in its territory. In this study, attempts will be made to explore the nexus between intergroup relations in the pre-colonial era, and nation-building in post-independence Nigeria. The aim is to interrogate with hindsight the dynamics of intergroup relations in pre-colonial, and the effect of colonial rule on the process in Nigeria. Also, the concomitant challenges emanating from the unholy compartmentalization of ethnic groups in post-independence Nigeria are examined. Attempts at post-independence nation-building in Nigeria have not achieved the desired success. The question, therefore, remains to this moment, what does the country need to do differently to get it right? Using secondary sources for analysis, the study adopts the historical narrative approach to explore the issues in context. The findings indicated that arteries of group interactions in pre-colonial times like marriage, traditional diplomatic ties, economic activities, and the allusion to common ancestry are still relevant factors in developing national-building policies in Nigeria. There was a truncated trend that could have paved the way for a bigger evolution. The British did an imposition that has not resulted in a united Nigeria. The study concluded that nation-building challenges in Nigeria would be surmounted when policies in this regard prioritize aspects of inter-group relations as agencies of national integration and unity.
Keywords: Inter-group relations, Nation-building, Post-independence, Colonial era.,