UNITY SCHOOLS AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA: ISSUES CHALLENGES AND THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

This paper looked at the Federal Government colleges, otherwise referred to as unity schools as agents of national unity and integration in Nigeria. The paper highlighted the fact that Nigeria is a poly–ethnic society of over 250 ethnic nationals, diverse in cultural practices, languages, cuisines, religion, and belief systems. The multi-ethnic nature of the Nigerian state as created by the British Colonial master has been a crises-ridden nation right from inception even witnessing a civil war. The Federal government of Nigeria introduced the unity schools as an avenue to encourage national unity and integration in Nigeria after the thirty months of civil war. The paper observed that the unity schools though with lofty objectives are faced with a lot of challenges that limited the objectives of the schools being actualized to the letter. The challenges range from the elitist nature of the school that limited the admission process to a privileged few, to corruption, poor funding poor supervision, and indiscipline among others. Based on these challenges so observed, the authors recommended a proper reorganization of the unity schools to meet the contemporary demands and challenges of the time, if national unity is hoped to be achieved through the unity schools.