RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS INITIALTIVES THROUGH THE DECADES OF NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE TOWARDS NATION BUILDING

Abstract

The dream of Nigeria since independence in 1960 is to turn itself into a viable and cohesive nation. Thrust of paper is to investigate the role of religion and religious organisations toward nation building in Nigeria. The theory of structural functionalism which has its roots from the works of the founding fathers of sociology such as Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons is adopted as a theoretical nucleus for the discourse. The paper investigated the factors militating against nation building in Nigeria and examined the place of religion and religious organisations in nation building. Thereafter, it concluded that Religion, just as its dysfunctional aspect has functional aspect as evidenced in morality, justice, truth, economic development, educational and social services which it can render through its various institutions. These functional aspects can be incorporated to the benefit of the nation's building, when religious dialogue, tolerance is given its due place. The paper also gave some recommendations among which include the need to carry religions along in government policies to always inculcate moral principles, justice, truth, equity and honesty which is a reagent to personality change thereby, reduce corruption.