Why emotional intelligence is crucial for nation-building

Before the British arrived, the region now called Nigeria was a collection of thriving kingdoms and empires. The Nok Civilization (500 BC – 200 AD), known for their incredible terracotta sculptures, laid some early foundations of what would later become the cultural mosaic we know today. Then came the Oyo Empire, the Benin Kingdom, and the Sokoto Caliphate, each with their own governance structures and unique cultures. Back then, if you were visiting the Oyo Empire, you probably wouldn’t say, “I’m going to Nigeria,” you’d say, “I’m going to Oyo” — and each region saw itself as a sovereign state.

Enter the British in the 19th century. They saw the region’s natural resources and thought, “Hey, let’s bundle all these people together into one big colony.” So in 1914, Nigeria was “created” through the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

It was as if someone decided to throw a massive Nigerian wedding where none of the guests knew each other. Imagine being Hausa and suddenly you’re expected to share a table with the Igbo and Yoruba—at first glance.

Fast forward to today, and Nigeria’s population is over 200 million people, divided roughly into three major ethnic groups: Hausa-Fulani (29%), Yoruba (21%), and Igbo (18%), with hundreds of smaller groups like the Tiv, Kanuri, and Nupe. Over the years, these groups have struggled to find common ground, and tensions have flared over who gets what slice of the national cake. Some of the most contentious topics? Control of oil resources, representation in government, and religious differences, particularly between the Muslim-majority North and Christian-majority South.

Tribalism has often discouraged nation-building among Nigerian citizens. During elections, you’ll often hear phrases like, “He’s our son,” which translates to “We’ll vote for him because he’s from our ethnic group.” This mindset undermines national unity and promotes short-term, ethnic-focused goals. In fact, Nigeria’s first few decades post-independence were marred by military coups, many of which were driven by ethnic and regional interests. The Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) was a direct consequence of ethnic tensions, with the Igbo-dominated Southeastern region attempting to secede as Biafra. The war resulted in over a million casualties and left deep scars that still impact national politics.

India and Nigeria are examples of countries that haven’t yet evolved into nationhood and the reasons are replete. India is very pluralistic: over nine major faiths with a myriad of others with less notoriety, over 12,858 political parties, and 2,700 languages with none being adopted as the lingua franca. Nigeria shares stark similarities with India, in that;
● They both share a strong division along ethnic, religious, and partisan lines.
● There are incessant incidents of inter-tribal and religious clashes,
● They both share a battle for geo-political supremacy and polarized cultural differences.
China, France, Russia, Ethiopia, and Egypt are examples of nations because of the high level of internal consensus that they have on issues such as foreign policy, culture and socio-economics, political ideology, and religious disposition. This is not to say that countries cannot grow to become nations; the United States of America is a veritable example of how a very diverse aggregation of peoples and territories can over time grow into nationhood and even successfully export its values to the rest of the world.

Nonetheless, it can be deduced that nation-building involves a series of actions and events that are aimed at re-engineering a country and developing a distinct ideology and identity for it such that it fosters peace within its borders whilst better positioning it to meet its strategic interests beyond its borders. It is the fortification of institutions that promote congruency amongst the different stakeholders, ethnicities, and political groups. More often than not, a curated type of education, which is an intangible asset of a people is deployed – that’s where emotional intelligence comes in.

Now, Nigerians, ever the optimists, often joke about their ethnic differences — but the humor can reveal deeper issues. You might hear a Yoruba person say, “You can’t out-talk a Yoruba man!” or an Igbo person jest, “An Igbo man will always find a way to make money.” These light-hearted stereotypes, though amusing in a social setting, hint at the entrenched views people have about each other. In truth, many Nigerians struggle to see themselves first as “Nigerians” before their ethnic identities. Imagine if, instead of asking, “What state are you from?” the common question was, “What have you done for Nigeria today?”

Nation-building goes beyond economic policies and political systems; it requires a deep understanding of human behavior, emotions, and relationships. Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions and the emotions of others, is essential for fostering unity, resolving conflicts, and creating an inclusive society. In a diverse nation like Nigeria, where ethnic, religious, and cultural differences often spark tensions, applying emotional intelligence can bridge divides and inspire collective efforts toward national development.
About Dr. Abiola Salami

Dr. Abiola Salami is the Convener of Dr Abiola Salami International Leadership Bootcamp and The Peak PerformerTM Festival He is the Principal Performance Strategist at CHAMP – a full scale professional services firm trusted by high performing business leaders for providing Executive Coaching, Workforce Development & Advisory Services to improve performance. You can reach his team on [email protected] and connect with him @abiolachamp on all social media platforms.