Historically, Nigerian ethnic groups had achieved a high level of integration before colonial conquest. Long-distance trade, migratory movements, and socioeconomic relations between groups have helped make ethnic and cultural integration an integral part of the evolution of modern Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo’s view that “Nigeria is a geographical expression and a country artificially created by the British” has been criticized based on historical reality. This is in relation to the country's different cultures, languages, histories, religions and worldviews. Historically, nations have emerged from diversity and continued to adapt to historical and political processes. The evolution of modern France and Germany exemplify this process. In the case of Nigeria, pre-colonial ethnic migrants in many places were integrated and assimilated into host communities. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The geopolitical entity defined as Nigeria remained the most enduring hangover of British colonialism. Before the popular merger of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, each of the more than 250 ethnic groups that make up the Nigerian state existed to some extent independently and distinctly in culture and tradition, but not that they did not interact with each other in terms favorable. What happened in the North and South unification episode of 1914 was reminiscent of a marriage, which may not be so pleasant but cannot be easily divorced. As a result, the British demonstrated their political prowess by introducing federalism. However, the 1914 exercise did not lead to the desired integration and intergroup relations. Derived from the problems inherent in federalism or the federal system, the principle of federal character was introduced as a therapy. In addition to economic decline and associated problems, Nigeria and Africa in general suffer from ongoing conflict and security issues that have led to intergroup hostility. relations. Osei-Hwedie (1998) also argued that multiparty politics accentuated ethnic and regional divisions that had intensified and consolidated during colonialism. African conflicts often have national and regional causes. This is due to problems associated with social, ethnic, cultural and religious differences in the context of enormous inequalities in the distribution of power, wealth and other resources that make challenges to the status quo inevitable. According to Deng and Zartman (1991) the struggle against colonialism brought together different ethnic groups against a common enemy, and therefore for a time differences were put aside as in Nigeria, as a common front was crucial in nationalist struggles. The people reconceived and refined their demands, moving from purely social and economic ones to political ones, which were refocused on relative autonomy and self-determination for their ethnic areas in the context of the Nigerian federation. All this has resulted in a cycle of conflict between the government and the people and between communities and other communities and their groups. Ethnicity; Ethnicity has been perceived by various sociologists and anthropologists as a very limited concept. It is a basis for national separation or political subordination. In practice, ethnicity tends to be used loosely to refer to commonality of language, religion, identity, national origin, and even skin color. According to Bulmer (1986), together with many sociologists and anthropologists, the central element of ethnicity has to do with "memories of a shared past", which involve the collective memory of a people. The challenges and”.