IMPORTANCE OF VALUES FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examined the importance of values for national integration in Nigeria. It pointed out the multiethnic nature, the pre colonial experience and inability of many Nigerian citizens to demonstrate national values of patriotism, tolerance, cooperation, honesty and obedience as part the problem of national integration. It is discovered in the paper that presently, value for wealth, materialism and ethnic loyalty are prominent among a number of Nigerians while civic values that can promote unity are relegated to the background. The paper revealed that value orientation is not a new development in Nigeria. Nigerian governments at various times have adopted both formal and informal means of inculcating national values in the citizens. However, these efforts yielded little or no result. The paper emphasized that the inculcation of values in the citizens will, to a large extent, guarantee national integration, peace and unity in the nation. Some of the approaches that could be adopted to develop