Achieving Unity in Nigeria’s Diversity: The Role of Literary and Language Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria since its inception has been a country in constant search for an identity that is hinged on unity, being a country peopled by diverse socio-cultural cum political affiliations. From the amalgamation of 1914 to the break out of the civil war in 1966, and the numerous coup d’états witnessed in the country, one dominant underlining issue, is the case of disunity, ethnic disaffection, and religious intolerance in our diversities. This research x-rays, how the numerous interventions of successive authorities in Nigeria have failed to yield the desired results of achieving unity, particularly due to the underlining intricacies of identity dynamics. This paper, being qualitative research, beams its searchlight on the numerous educational policies in Nigeria, geared toward fostering unity, and why they have failed. It is discovered that, unity is a recipe for peace and the apparent lack of common identity cannot engender peace. The current insecurity challenges plaguing our country at this moment is a product of many years of disunity and mistrust in the system. Also, aside music and sports, literary and language education, possess a potent capacity to unite a patently fragmented nation like ours. Through language integration and cultural assimilation, people tend to feel inclusive and matter in the grand scheme of things pertaining to nationhood. Based on the foregoing, this paper recommends, amongst others, a deliberate attempt to acculturate literary and language integration in Nigeria, especially in our school curriculum. Cultural exchange and intentional literary and language policies should be instituted to place high premium on literary and language education. Training and retraining of literary and language education scholars should be a matter of necessity. The study advocates the inclusion of literary and language scholars back into the TETFUND overseas training for academics in Nigeria.