Abstract
This
research work was conducted to examine the psychological effects of inter
ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria. The survey research
design was used in carrying out the study since it required the collection of
data from a large number of respondents within the limited time scheduled for
the completion of the project. Relevant research questions and hypotheses were
answered and tested respectively to show the findings of the study. A
questionnaire was designed by the researcher and validated by the supervisor
which was administered to the respondents for the generation of data. However,
a total number of 100 respondents comprising 86 male and 14 female were
selected through simple random sampling method to generate the sample size. The
sample size was considered adequate and representative because, all the
respondents were people of the same profession and had similar orientation,
though they were drawn from different schools. The analysis of the data
collected from respondents was carried out with the use of percentage and
frequency distribution tables, while the hypotheses earlier stated in the study
were tested with the chi-square (X2) statistical tool to establish
their correctness or otherwise. The findings made from the study revealed that:
Poverty level is a cause of inter ethnic
conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria., Bad leadership is a cause of
inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria., Self control of
resources is a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in
Nigeria., High level of illiteracy is
cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria., Level of
unemployment is a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in
Nigeria.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the Study
1.2 Statement
of Problems
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
1.4 Research
Questions
1.5 Research Hypothesis
1.6 Significance
of the Study
1.7 Scope
and Limitation of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 An
Overview of Inter Ethnicity
2.2 Ethno-religious
clashes
2.3 Review of
Related Literatures On Religious
Ethnic Crises
2.4 Review Of
Cases Of Religious
Crises In Different Parts Of
Nigeria
2.5 Manifestations of Ethno-Religious
Conflicts in Nigeria
2.6 Causes of Ethno-Religious Conflicts in
Nigeria: A Review
2.7 Class,
gender and youth
2.8 Causes
of Ethnic Conflict
2.9 Economic
Migration and Urban Ethnic Religious Conflict:
Economic Pull versus
Social Push
2.10 The
Issues and The Challenges of Inter Ethnicity
2.11 Summary
of the Review
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research
Design
3.2 Population
of the Study
3.3 Sampling
Size and Procedure
3.4 Research
Instrument
3.5
Validity and Reliability of Research Instrument
3.6
Scope of the Study
3.7 Data Collection
3.8 Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2
PRESENTATION
OF ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.3
HYPOTHESIS
TESTING
4.4
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY,
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY
5.2 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
5.3 CONCLUSION
5.4 RECOMMENDATION
REFERENCE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Nigeria
is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and multicultural society with enormous
potential for economic, social, and democratic development. However, intense
conflicts and violence that manifested within it even from its earliest time
under the colonial rule have made development and progress elude the country.
Nigeria is usually characterized as a deeply divided state in which major
political issues are vigorously contested along the lines of complex ethnic,
religious, and regional divisions. The causes of these conflicts may not be
unconnected with the way and manner religion is portrayed to its adherents and
mistrust between the followers of the various religious and ethnic groups. The
issues that generate the fiercest contestation include those that are
considered fundamental to the existence and legitimacy of the state, over which
competing groups tend to adopt exclusionary, winner takes all strategies, which
include the control of state power, resource allocation, and citizenship.
Ethnic
conflict has been rightly defined as one of the greatest obstacles to
meaningful development in Africa (The Courier 1993). In Nigeria, this sort of
competition and rivalry among various ethnic groups is seen as a product of
colonial contact. The ethnic factor, however, did not diminish with the advent
of independence; rather, it became a yardstick for measuring contribution to
the national development effort and especially for allocating and distributing
power and national resources. As Nigeria is currently engaged in another
exercise aimed at establishing a sustainable form of democracy, there is urgent
need to address perceived factors that
may militate against the success of this endeavour. In certain quarters, the
annulment of the democratic transition programme by the military in 1993 at the
conclusion of the presidential polls is believed to have been motivated by
ethnic sentiments. On a similar note, the 30-month senseless slaughter
occasioned by the Nigerian civil war from 1967 to 1970 was anchored on ethnic
rivalry.
In
view of this, as well as the implications of pronounced conflict over power
sharing and resource allocation, the ethnic question demands continuous
examination if efforts to achieve a beer Nigeria arc to succeed. In addition,
this type of analysis may go a long way in preventing ethnic conflict, since it
proffers suggestions on how to lessen ethnic tensions and resolve contentious
issues. Feasible solutions to ethnic problems can only emanate from
well-grounded examinations of the phenomenon itself. Ethnic conflict obviously
affect the development of a society, since this can only take place within a
peaceful and democratic context that is devoid of rancour.
Inter
conflict violence has reached unprecedented levels and hundreds have been
killed with much more wounded or displaced from their homes on account of their
ethnic or religious identification. Schooling for children has been disrupted
and interrupted; businesses have lost billions of naira and property worth much
more destroyed." The character of the Nigerian State is responsible for
the country's deepening ethno-religious contradictions. This plural nature
fuels a constant feeling of distrust between the component units, and the fear
of one ethnic or religious group dominating the other is rife. Even though, the
Federal Government of Nigeria has put in a lot of effort in order to solve or
reduce the menace of religious conflict in the country, in most cases these
efforts have yielded little or no success. Therefore, the government needs to
be hyper-active in its approach to its policies on religious-based conflict
prevention and resolution.
The
term violence has attracted a wide range of definitions in literature. The
Princeton Cognitive Science Laboratory defines it as "an act of aggression
(as one against a person who resists); a turbulent state resulting in injuries
and destruction; ferocity: the property of being wild or turbulent." Violence
is an integral part of man's existence and a common occurrence in human
societies.
It
could be due to differences in political ideologies, as was evident during the
Cold War period, and terrorism, bad governance, ethnic nationalism, economic
and religious reasons, and in some cases a combination of two or more of these
factors.
Ethnic
groups are defined as a community of people who share cultural and linguistic
characteristics including history, tradition, myth, and origin. Scholars have
been trying to develop a theoretical approach to ethnicity and ethnic conflict
for a long time. Conflicts can be adaptive or maladaptive,
functional/constructive or dysfunctional. Indeed human and societal progress
over the ages, for example, has been driven by conflict. But the liquidation of
entire peoples and cultures has also been driven by conflict. The outcome of a
given conflict, therefore, depends on how it is managed by contending forces. Lack
of social reciprocity and/or tolerance for differences of opinion increases the
risk of violence and war.
Statement of Problems
The
problems statement is extensively on the effect of inter ethnic conflicts on
social health workers in Nigeria. Nigeria, which is an heterogeneous state
comprises several pluralities principally ethnic and religious. Although the
country is federated, it is yet to find an enduring formula for peaceful
coexistence of her more than 280 ethnic groups and different religions. Another
major cause of ethnic conflict is psychology, especially the fear and
insecurity of ethnic groups during transition. It has been opined that
extremists build upon these fears to polarise the society. Additionally,
memories of past traumas magnify these anxieties. These interactions produce a
toxic brew of distrust and suspicion that leads to ethnic violence. The fear of
white Afrikaners in South Africa on the eve of democratic elections was a good
case in point Politicised ethnicity has been detrimental to national unity and
socio-economic well-being. It is important to note that most of these ethnic
conflicts were caused by colonialism, which compounded inter-ethnic conflict by
capitalizing on the isolation of ethnic groups. The divide-and-conquer method
was used to pit ethnicities against each other, thus keeping the people from
rising up against the colonisers. Distribution of economic resources was often
skewed to favour a particular group, pushing marginalized groups to use their
ethnicity to mobilise for equality. These are the seeds of conflict. There are
some common conflict patterns. They include:
1. The
demand for ethnic and cultural autonomy,
2. Competing
demands for land, money and power, and
3. Conflicts
taking place between rival ethnic groups.
According
to Imobighe, (2003:81) the root cause of the present phase of the
ethno-religious conflict was when the military government of Nigeria, in
January 1986; digressed from a secular state and took the controversial
decision for Nigeria to join the organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
This
gave rise to the Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of
Nigeria (CAN) vicious and emotional campaigns for and against the country's
membership of OIC. While CAN (the representative of all Nigerian Christians)
called on Christians to rise and resist what was tagged 'the Nigeria march
towards Islamisation', powerful Muslim leaders sponsored demonstrations in
favour of joining the organisation.
Big
problems and challenges loomed as the two dominant religions seek support of
all members. The Muslims embarked on a huge propaganda campaign against the
domination and marginalization of the Muslim majority by Christian minority.
Forthwith; both sides called on their faithful to rise in defense of their
religious perversion (New swatch, 1986). The various regimes in Nigeria headed
by either a Muslim or Christian dictators (military or civil) does not help the
matter as they watched as religious hostility and hatred deepened in civil
society. Soonest the issue of Sharia law arose leading to aggravated intra and
inter-religion conflict in several parts of Nigeria.
Therefore,
the need to checkmates the causes and effect of this social menace and social
ills called the psychological effects of inter ethnic conflicts on social
health workers in Nigeria.
Purpose of the Study
The
main purpose of study is to ascertain the psychological effects of inter ethnic
conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
Other
purpose of this study are as follows:
i.
To ascertain if poverty level is a cause
of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
ii.
To ascertain if bad leadership is a cause
of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
iii.
To ascertain if self control of resources
is a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
iv.
To ascertain if high level of illiteracy
is a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
v.
To ascertain if level of unemployment is a
cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
Research Questions
The
research questions are as follows:
i.
Is poverty level a cause of inter ethnic
conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
ii.
Is bad leadership a cause of inter ethnic
conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
iii.
Is self control of resources a cause of inter
ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
iv.
Does high level of illiteracy a cause of
inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
v.
Does the level of unemployment a cause of
inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
Research
Hypothesis
i.
Poverty
level is not a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers
in Nigeria.
ii.
Bad leadership is not a cause of inter
ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
iii.
Self control of resources is not a cause
of inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria.
iv.
High
level of illiteracy is not a cause of inter ethnic conflicts on social
health workers in Nigeria.
v.
Level of unemployment is not a cause of
inter ethnic conflicts on social health workers in Nigeria?
Significance of the Study
This
study would be of much benefit to the community, religious body, government
entire school administrators of secondary schools and other educational
institutions and industries in Nigeria. Religion is a life-cycle. It is a way
of life of an individual or a people.
The primary purpose religious education is to successfully facilitate
outcomes perceived to be in line with Christianity or Islam or any other
religion (Achuzie, 2004). The learner's life is therefore, modified along the
particular religion. Other vital outcomes such as cognitive and affective ones
assume a role and importance in keeping with the degree to which they foster
and enhance religious life-style or behaviour in the learner's life.
The
following are therefore, the benefits of this research study in Nigeria.
i.
Religious education makes the students to
be aware of God's love for mankind, which is manifested in creation and His
various gifts (spiritual and material).
ii.
Religious education helps the individuals
to respond to God's love with love manifested in their obedience to God's
commandments.
iii.
Religious education encourages students to
love and live in peace with their fellow men.
iv.
Religious education assists the students
to have the right idea about God, by teaching them the Holy Scriptures.
v.
Religious education helps to fill the
hearts of students with the guidance thereby regulating their conducts.
Religion
naturally, is associated with the inculcation of moral value in students,
Christians, Muslims and traditionalists, and expose their children to the moral
values of their religious rights from a tender age.
With
religious education, children are trained to fear God and divinities because
they can bless or punish them. For instance, each of the religions practiced in
Nigeria has certain morals to teach, and the school as an organized society
should assist in inculcating moral values (Ajiobi, 2001).
Scope and Limitation of the Study
This
study will particularly cover the community in all local government area of
Lagos and focus mainly on the area. This is because the researcher does not
have sufficient time and money to conduct a state wide study on all the Local
Government area of Lagos State, let alone extending same to other local
government areas in Lagos State.
Time
and protocol of obtaining clearance from the school management before possibly,
having access to interact with their teachers especially on official hours
might be a hindrance as well.
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