GOOD GOVERNANCE AND EFFECTIVE HUMAN RELATIONS: PATHWAYS TO FOSTERING ETHNO-RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria as the most populous African state is uniquely described as the country with the largest number of Muslims and Christians living together in the world. With over two hundred and fifty distinctively divergence lingual groupings, Nigeria has more ethnic groups than any other nation state. With this diversity, Nigeria has much to offer to humanity, especially its rich culture and historical experience as a former colonial state. However, one of the major challenges facing Nigeria is the need to overcome ethnic and religious prejudices that have impeded its development and stunted its growth, thereby retarding its progress and making it one of the poorest countries instead of one of the richest. Therefore, the thrust of this paper is to consider how best we could overcome this daunting challenge and foster ethno-religious harmony in the country. The paper is based on the conviction that good governance and effective human relations are requisite pathways necessary to foster a harmonious co-existence between different religions and various ethnic groups endowed this country by providence. This is particularly so because there can be no peace when credible leaders are lacking, and harmony exist only when good relationship between various components of the society is established.