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Global Citizenship Sensitization A Tool for Multiethnic Harmony in Multicultural Society Like Nigeria

Ashibekong, Christopher Akongwale, Prof. E. E. Essien

Abstract

In the context of rising global interconnected and intensifying local ethnic violence, especially in post-colonial entity like Nigeria, the assertion of global citizenship emerges as a transformative framework for cultivating intercultural discussion, understanding and promoting sustainable peace. This paper interrogates the concept of global citizenship sensitization as a strategic and normative tool for achieving multi-ethnic harmony within the complex socio-political fabric of Nigeria's multicultural society. Nigeria Africa's most populous country hosts over 250 different ethnic groups, with a long history of diverse ethno-religious conflicts, secessionist agitations, and regional inequalities problems, all of which threaten national unity, integration and social cohesion. While conventional nation-building strategies have often emphasized assimilation and ethnically skewed federal structures, this paper argues for a shift toward a cosmopolitan civic identity that emphasizes shared humanity, critical consciousness, empathy, and global responsibility. The study synthesizes global sensitization foundations from cosmopolitanism, constructivist civic education, and intercultural communication theory, integrating them with case analyses and policy critiques to examine how global citizenship education (GCE) can be mobilized as both a pedagogical and sociopolitical tool for transformation. It investigates the role of formal education, non-formal civic engagement, youth empowerment programs, and media campaigns in deconstructing parochial identity narratives and fostering inclusive, pluralist values across Nigeria's deeply divided ethnic landscape. Methodologically, the paper relies on a qualitative meta-analysis of secondary sources-including curriculum policies, peace education models, comparative multicultural frameworks, and conflict-resolution literature-supplemented with examples from both successful (e.g., Rwanda, Canada) and fragile (e.g., Lebanon) multicultural

Keywords

GlobalCitizenshipSensitizationToolMulti-ethnicHarmonyMulticulturalSocietyNigeria.

References

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