Identity politics, conflict, and national integration in Nigeria: the youths’ perspective

Nigeria is a youthful country and a classic example of a multicultural society. The youth population in Nigeria is approximately 95 million (i.e. 45% of the total population). Rather than hold a place in the development of the country, the cohort has been excluded from governance and used to promote ethnic and religious conflicts. Ordinarily, having multiple identities should not be anathema to national integration. Experience, however, shows that the various identity groups in Nigeria have a penchant for identity politics; the result of which has been group conflicts and weak national cohesion. This study surveys the opinion of youths on the relationship between identity politics, group conflict and national integration. The result, representing the opinion of the youth, presents evidence that there is a significant positive correlation between identity politics and group conflict and between identity politics and national integration in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended – among other things – that the Federal Government of Nigeria should create an Identity Mobilization Commission and a National Integration Commission to promote the narratives of oneness, particularly among the youths.