ETHNICITY, RELIGION, POLITICS AND THE CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
ETHNICITY, RELIGION, POLITICS AND THE CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Summary/Abstract: The concepts ethnicity, religion and politics are problematic even at the level of conceptualization. However, the interdependence of ethnicity, religion and politics as social dynamics in fostering the development of a nation has become imperative across the globe. Nigeria is multi-ethnic with cultural differences between its component ethnic groups has been crippled by series of political unrest, ethnic chauvinism, youth restiveness, corruption, religious bigotry and extremism, and other social vices that undermine national development. Therefore, it is against this backdrop that this study examines the effects of ethnicity, religion and politics on national development in Nigeria. A descriptive method was adopted and cross-sectional data were collected across the twenty five Local Government Areas in Delta State with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Non-probabilistic sampling techniques comprising of purposeful and convenience techniques were used to elicit information via questionnaire from 400 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. The findings of the study showed that ethnicity, religion and politics negatively and significantly impacts national development in Nigeria. On the basis of these findings, the study recommends among others that the nation needs a purposeful leadership that has a vision of how to place its citizens at the centre of political project without recourse to ethnic chauvinism and sees acquisition of political power as not an end in itself but a means for serving the collective welfare of its people regardless of their ethnic origin.

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