CHALLENGES OF ETHNICITY AND SOCIAL WORK INTERVENTION IN OLUKU COMMUNITY, OVIA NORTHEAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

The study investigated Challenges of ethnicity and social work intervention in Oluku community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to assess, evaluate and determine the challenges of ethnicity and social work intervention in Oluku Community in Ovia North East local government area in Edo State. The research questions asked to achieve the objective of the study were as follows; what are the challenges of ethnicity in Oluku community, what is the effect of social work intervention in Oluku community and how can social work intervention be used to solve the ethnic challenges in Oluku community. The sample size was 100 participants chosen from the study population using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling, the research instrument utilized was the questionnaire. Conclusion drawn from the analysis of the data retrieved from the questionnaire indicates that Ethnicity in Nigeria is based on natural affinity. It is a given from nature. It is therefore good in itself. Like every other natural phenomenon, it can be gainfully employed for the wellbeing of man. It is useless trying to stamp it out completely in the society. It will not even be possible. Efforts made in the past in various countries in this direction did not yield any positive result. Attempts should rather be geared towards making every ethnic group in Nigeria to be very united. When unity is achieved, economic, social and political development will follow inexorably. Recommendations were made based on the findings and they include: Nigerian should learn how to put the interests of the country first before their parochial, tribal, ethnic or religious interests because the country is for all of us. The leadership of Nigeria headed by Tinubu should as a matter of fairness keep to their electoral promise by putting in place electoral reforms that would enable Nigerians have free and fair election that had eluded the country for decades; If we must exist as a nation, due regard must be given to the plurality of our ethnic nationalities in which case, principles of true federalism must be adhered to. Political power has to be shared satisfactorily among the component ethno-cultural communities and resources for development distributed equitably.