The Concept of Nation Consciousness, National Integrity and National unity - WEEK TEN

Wk 10

Topic: The Concept of Nation Consciousness, National Integrity and
National unity
Specific Objectives: By the end of the lesson the, the students should
be able to
1: Define meanings of the following terms national consciousness,
National, integrity and national unity.
2. Write out the various ways of promoting national consciousness and
integrity.
3. Appreciate the lesson by answering question coming up from the
lesson.
National Consciousness
National Consciousness is the awareness that one belongs to an ethnic or political
nation. That one is only a unit of a socially organized entity sustained by network
of interactions and interdependence. National consciousness is a feeling of
necessary social cohesion which establishes a unique character, image and
identity for a nation. National consciousness demands the following:
1. The existence of an ethnic or political created group within a given geographical
territory.
2. Well-feeling owing to psycho-genic and cultural attachment.
3. Love for the identified group and anything that would warrant its continuity.

4. Making sacrifices to sustain the group’s interest, norms, values and cultural
orientations.
5. Obedience to constituted authorities and laws.
6. Defending against external threats and internal divisions and injustices.
7. Giving substantial economic support to strengthen the nation’s economic and
social base.
8. Supporting the political structure for autonomy, secured life and general well-
being.
9. Initiating and espousing ideas that can foster meaningful transformation,
growth and development.
This means that the interest of the nation comes first before individual
preferences. The Germans, Israelis, Britons and Americans offer good examples of
citizens with highly developed national consciousness which has accounted for
their greatly rated status and international prestige. The citizens of these nations
are willing and ready to pay the supreme price to advance the cause of their
nations. Without national consciousness, a nation claim to be truly united, co
ordinate, focused and progressive. That is why some political philosophers insist
that national consciousness is the key in building a resourceful and virile nation.
National Integrity
National integrity means being honest to ourselves and basing our actions, visions
and missions on strong moral principles. It also means a state devoid of division,
segregation and oppression. Pursuing nation integrity entails being kind-hearted,

open-hearted, truthful and empathic in relating with other people outside our
own clan or ethnic group. It means finding a base for unity, togetherness and co-
operative efforts at nation-building.
Lack of national integrity has delayed the Nigerian effort to advance. Based on the
fact that most of her leaders are not honest especially when it has to do with
equitable distribution of public facilities, we tend to experience conflicts, riots,
insurrections, social unrest and vices. Due to leadership rascality, military,
dictatorship, ethnic oligarchy and intolerance, ethnic militia and religious
fundamentalists emerge to terrorize the Nigerian state.
Odua people’s congress (OPC) emerge to protest the 1993 presidential election
won by M.KO abiola which was annulled by president Ibrahim Babangida. The
OPC rose to protest the Yoruba the Yoruba interest until President Olusegun
Obasanjo was elected president in 1999.
The Movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) led
by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike emerged to protest the ill-treatments meted out to
Ndi-Igbo by other tribes in Nigeria. Their aim remains to actualize the Biafran
state or sovereignty, this time not by war but through legal and peaceful
negotiations.
There is the movement for emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) led by the
neglect of the Niger Delta Region. Their contention is that both the expatriates
and Federal Government colluded to under-develop the very region that
produces the liquid gold which sustains the national economy. They engaged in
killings, pipeline vandalism, abductions, kidnapping and picketing until the Federal
Government declared amnesty in 2009 which led to a relative peace in the area.

The Insist on Islamic tenets, northern oligarchy and removal of all western tenets
in political and social structures In Nigeria. The Boko Haram sect engages in
destruction of lives and property, terrorist attacks, burning down of churches,
bombing strategic national and international institutions and making Nigeria
ungovernable.
These depict anarchy and loss of national integrity and loss of national integrity.
This is keeping our country at country at cross roads in terms of development and
achieving true national programs and policies. This divisive tendency is counter
productive as it run against nationalism and national consciousness. We need
undiluted national integrity to remain a united, reliable, respected and
dependable nation. To achieve this, nationality integrity demands:
1. Honest dealing with other citizens no matter their ethnic inclination.
2. Truthfulness.
3. Trustworthiness.
4. Leader and citizenry with sound moral upbringing and disposition.
5. Unity arising from our obvious cultural and social differences. This unity should
be seen as a resource and point of strength instead of a point of weakness.
6. Understanding and tolerating other people’s way of life.
7. Justice, equity, fairness and political equality of all and sundry.

National unity
The concept of national unity presupposes the existence of cultural and social
diversities on our nation. It suggests the need to combine our efforts and
resources, interweave our diverse cultural heritage and forge a common front
which will sustain our noble effort at building the nation.
National unity is a value we need so much in Nigeria to be able to advance and
succeed as a nation. National unity requires integrity and national consciousness
with the spirit of patriotism and nationalism. This is why the motto of Nigeria Coat
of arms reads “Unity and faith, peace and progress”. National unity fosters peace
and progress.
National unity has long eluded our country. The amalgamation of 1914 by sir
Fredrick Lugard which brought the Northern and southern protectorates together
as one Nigeria was a quest towards national unity even during colonial days. This
lack of unity brought about inequitable development of the three regions of East,
West and North during colonial and post-independence era. Nigeria could have
become independent in 1953 but for lack of unity of purpose. The post
independence crises that culminated in civil war (1967-1970) was caused largely
by lack of unity and corruption. Today’s Nigeria still remains polarized along
ethnic lines bringing about Federal character, quota system and non-indigenes
policies. The Abia state government in September,2011 had to sack all non
indigenes working in the Abia state public service against appeals to national
unity. Many Nigerians are discriminated against when it comes to employment,
acquisition of landed property, appointments into political offices, electoral
contests, residency, university admissions and access to certain amenities as a

result of non-indigeneship policies. This has kept Nigeria on the fence in trying to
achieve laudable millennium goals.
How to promote National Consciousness, integrity and unity
No nation can survive without these. This has made it imperative to seek ways in
promoting these values. We can promote these values by;
1. Upholding the tenets and practice of fundamental human rights as enshrined in
both our constitution and the 1948 United Nations Organization (UNO) charter of
universal declaration of rights.
2. Promoting equity, justice, fairness and equality among the ethnic groups,
institutions and people in Nigeria.
3. We should emphasize the formation of cultural synergy which gives every
ethnic group equal footing. Areas of unity should be emphasized while de-
emphasizing areas of diversity.
4. The Nigerian government should resist obnoxious western cultural life patterns
which negate our mission as a people. Laws should be enacted to destroy
borrowed negative cultures. The bill passed in November 2011 by the senate
prohibiting same sex marriage is in line with this opinion. Such western anti-
humanist practices if allowed could drift our unity apart.
5. we must learn to reward and immortalize our national models whether dead or
living. Such dead models such as Gani Fawehinmi, Bello Ransome Kuti, Bishop
Mattew Kukah, Olise Agbakoba, Pa Michael Imodu, Fela Anikulakpo Ransome

Kuti, Odumegwu Ojukwu among others should be immortalized to encourage
others to seek national unity and justice.
6. The Federal Government should in truth have national and federal outlook. The
unity of the nation would be called to question where political offices and
leadership tilt towards certain ethnic groups. Where major federal establishments
are found only in Kaduna, Jos, Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan while the Federal
presence is scanty or not available in some cannot promote the much needed
national unity.
7. The establishment of notable national monuments such as the Federal Civil
Service, Federal Institutions and the National Anthem otherwise called
monuments of unity should be sustained. Others include
I. The Presidency
ii. The National Assembly
iii. The National Flag
iv. The National Logo and Motto
v. Unity sports Teams
vi. Unity schools and Federal Tertiary Institutions
vii. The Nigerian Armed Forces and Para-military Agencies
viii. The National Pledge
ix. Federal Executive Council

x. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
xi. The National Constitution
xii. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
xiii. The Coat of Arms
xiv. The Nigerian International Passport
xv. The Nigerian Map
xvi. The Nigerian Currency
xvii. The National Identity Card
xviii. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
xix. Federal Medical Centers (FMC)
xx. Federal Secretariats
xxi. The Federal Courts.
Evaluation: The teacher evaluates her lesson by asking them the following
questions
1:whast national integrity
2. In what four ways is national consciousness relate to national integrity
3. explain three ways you promote national integrity
Assignment: teacher gives them these

1. Outline two ways of preserving culture.
2. Nationalism is a product of what
3. State ways in which tradition, custom and culture can be preserved