Promoting Unity in Diversity: The Imperative of Social Transformation for Managing Boko Haram Uprising in Nigeria

Since the attainment of flag independence in 1960, Nigeria has been grappling with how to ensure unity in diversity among its various regional, religious and ethno-linguistic groups. Successive governments have strategized different mechanisms aimed at promoting national integration including the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps, building of Unity Schools, state and locality creation, implementation of a Federal Character principle, and the zoning of power positions, among several public policies. Despite these measures, Nigeria remains divided and prone to sectarian violence. In the past, many had called for the convocation of a sovereign national conference to renegotiate the terms of Nigerian unity. Currently, the Boko Haram radical Islamic sect is engaged in a rebellion against the state in the hope of establishing a theocracy governed by Sharia law. This article interrogates the role of social transformation in mitigating the Boko Haram terrorism. It argues that Islamic extremism is a manifestation of poor governance, especially the inability of governments at all levels to mainstream the importance of tolerance among the diverse social groups particularly across religious divides. The article stresses the need for peace education, principally the use of social transformation as a management tool of identity conflict by inculcating the right values in people starting from childhood. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2016.v6n2p41