Nigeria’s social cohension for 2022 stood at 39.6% as against the 2021 Index of 44.2%, a recent African Polling Institute report had stated.
This represents a 4.6% decline when compare to 2021.
This also falls short of the 50% average, which signifies a weakening of the state of social cohesion in Nigeria.
API is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan opinion research think-tank that conducts opinion polls, surveys, social research, and evaluation studies at the intersection of democracy, governance, and economic conditions to support better public advocacy, practice, and public policy in Africa.
The report which is an outcome of a survey, tracked the cohesiveness in three series of the Nigeria Social Cohesion.
Dr. Olugbenga Ogunmefun, API Director of Research and Institutional Strengthening disclosed this on Wednesday at the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy’s Capacity Building Workshop on MIL Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue.
He said, ” The 2022 Nigeria Social Cohesion Index (NSCI) as recently released by Africa Polling Institute has been computed as 39.6%. This score represents a 4.6% decline from the 2021 Index of 44.2% and falls short of the 50% average and signifies a weakening of the state of social cohesion in Nigeria. “
The 2022 survey also showed that the five major causes of conflicts in Nigeria which reflects a lack of Social Cohesion are: Political Party affiliations (51%), Ethnic/Tribal Differences (48%), Religious Differences (45%), Access to land (30%), and Differences in Social Status (25% ) amongst others. Unsurprisingly, political party affiliation comes tops, given the heightened political activities resulting from the buildup to the 2023 General Elections.”
Also from the same report, “Peacebuilding sub-index findings reveal that:
Most Nigerians (48%) define peacebuilding practices as “General actions carried out or taken to bring about peace among people”; while 58% “agree and strongly agree” that recurring conflicts facing the country can be resolved through local peacebuilding efforts. 67% rated the government “Poorly” at deploying appropriate peacebuilding initiatives to tackle conflicts. Furthermore, 76% of Nigerians affirmed their willingness to participate in peacebuilding practices.
“Also, Polarization which affirms a lack of social cohesion has the following data: Over half of Nigerians (53%) “agree and strongly agree” that Nigeria is more polarized today (in 2022) than it was under the previous administration. On the key causes of polarization, more Nigerians consider Ethnicity (62%), Political affiliation (60%) and Religion (57%) as the top three factors that have divided the country today (in 2022) compared to the previous administration.”
Ogunmefun explained that the Index score was derived from the computation of 13 key indicators / sub-indices of Identity, Trust, Social Justice, Participation and Patriotism, Worth, Future, Gender Equity, Natural Resources Governance, Impunity, Corruption, Peacebuilding, Polarization and Coping Strategy.
“It is worth noting that the 2022 Index reflects the perception of citizens on the current state of the nation, given the increasing level of insecurity, agitations against the state, increasing calls for restructuring, and a general sense of disaffection amongst the majority of citizens. Therefore, the 2022 NSCI of 39.6%, declining from 44.2% in 2021, is not surprising; considering the data provides evidence of deepening fault lines and polarization along ethnic, religious, economic and political lines.
“Peacebuilding is an integral part of social cohesion and all avenues for resolving disputes to promote peace must be exploited,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Orientation Agency said it has commenced training of 37,000 Nigeria to fact check information as part of the measures to checkmate fake news and hate speech.
According to Mr. Paul Odenyi, Assistant Director, Media and Publicity, NOA, the agency is already traininng the Course 12 of the programme, which is aimed at equiping the trainees with required knowledge and tools to counter fake news.
Odenyi spoke on how the National Orientation Agency (NOA) can utilise the media and other sensitization platforms to enhance peace and social cohesion in the country.
The event was the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy’s Capacity Building Workshop on MIL Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue
Given the numerous havoc fake news and hate speech have created, Odenyi said, “Arising from the foregoing, it is easy to understand why, this year alone, we at NOA embarked on the project of empowering 37,000 Nigerians with the skills to fact check information in the era of fake news and hate speech. We are already in Course Twelve of that programme and several thousands of Nigerians, especially in the public service, have been equiped with that important skill to verify what is factual, true and appropriate in the information system.”
He also added, “You can agree with me that the scourge of fake news is thriving in our country. The potential for harm and hurt is enormous.”
He also cited instances, where fake news such as in the health sector, when the news went viral that drinking salt water could help prevent Ebola infection, and in recent time during the COVID 19 lockdown, many had believed the lie that COVID was for big men and white folks. In other countries, fake news have led to national conflicts and the murder of several people.
“These scenarios underscore the level of information literacy gap that exists in the society and its far reaching implications for society,” he posited.
As a lead agency in enlighten and mobilising the public on government programmes, policies and activities, Odenyi said NOA is also deploying it’s various platforms to campaign against electoral violence.
He said, “As we prepare for the 2023 election, the NOA is deploying its various platforms to campaign against election violence. It also does the critical task of educating voters on the symbols, processes and procedure for voting. In addition, the Agency is undertaking a campaign against electoral frauds including vote buying and selling and vote snatching.
He said the agency would be appealing to the “conscience of our people on the need to remain civil and orderly even as we disagree over political choices.”
NOA, he also said has deployed a number of social mobilisation methodologies to promote religous harmony in our various communities.
“One of such is Theatre for Development (community theatre) to promote social cohesion. This involves the participation of community members in writing their own stories and performing them in dramatic presentations which are usually a combination of drama and dance, using their own local language. This approach enables community members understand the consequences and rewards of certain actions as depicted in the dramas”.
In his opening address, the Coordinator AFRICMIL, Dr. Chido Onumah said political and religious actors and mischief makers who thrive on conflicts have continued to exploit the lack of MIL knowledge among the great majority of the citizens to deepen the fault lines by propagating messages of hate, extremism, misinformation and fake news.
He therefore said that the purpose of the workshop is to.empower opinion leaders and young people in various communities with MIL competencies that will enhance their capacity to navigate the news media and internet with a view to addressing misinformation or bias about their own beliefs or those of others.
