IGBO PEOPLE AND THE NIGERIA ECONOMY-A WAY FORWARD

Abstract

This paper examined Igbo people and the Nigeria economy; a way forward. Igbo people because of Brian war have suffered in Nigeria more than any other ethnic groups. They were exposed to severe infrastructural damages, lack of jobs, loss of life-time savings, poverty, wounded, handicapped and discrimination. This situation, made Igbo people seek survival through trade and entrepreneurship. This study employed survey research design to study a population of 850 participants in five states in South Eastern Nigeria. Random sampling technique was used to select 17 respondents from each of the five states given a total sample of 85 respondents. Structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected was analyzed with tables and mean statistics. This study found that the spirit of entrepreneurship made Igbo people see themselves as a collective group who work together on the basis of their common ancestry, history, language and religion. The study concluded that the Igbo people entrepreneurial activities have facilitated an improved standard of living among them and by extension to the whole nation. Thus, this study recommended among others that Igbo people should return to their former identity and values that distinguished them from other ethnic groups in Nigeria by upholding communal living and love for themselves. They should have one mind to legally constrain all anti- forces and agents against them in Nigeria by exposing them and their machinations to the international laws that govern civilized humanity. They should be united and seek for independence of their own nation as despite their contributions to the development of Nigeria through trade, entrepreneurship, job and wealth creation, they are still marginalized in the umbrella of Nigeria.