By Sonny Iroche
Introduction
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in ethnic-driven hate speech, particularly on social media and political platforms. These divisive narratives, often fueled by ignorance, prejudice, and frustration, target whole groups of Nigerians with sweeping stereotypes. Such reckless profiling is not only misleading but also dangerous, as it undermines the fragile cohesion of our multi-ethnic nation.
What is most paradoxical is that many Nigerians loudly condemn racism and discrimination abroad, yet some turn around to perpetuate ethnic bigotry at home. When Africans are stereotyped by foreign nationals as criminals, corrupt, or backward, Nigerians rightly express outrage. But the same outrage is not extended when one ethnic group slanders another. This double standard reveals a deeper psychological and moral failure in our national discourse.
Among those often unfairly vilified are Ndigbo. Despite their immense contributions to national development, Ndigbo are sometimes made scapegoats for Nigeria’s problems by individuals who ignore the bigger picture of structural governance failures, elite corruption, and systemic neglect. I wish to make it crystal clear, from an objective assessment that such stereotypes are baseless, unsupported by facts, and harmful to the collective survival of Nigeria.
The Danger of Ethnic Profiling
Ethnic profiling, whether against Ndigbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Hausa, Tiv, Ijaw, Benin, Itsekiri, Urhobo, or any other group, has no statistical or empirical foundation in Nigerian crime and corruption data. To date, no credible national body, international organization, or peer-reviewed study has provided ethnic breakdowns of corruption or drug-related crimes in Nigeria.
Yes, Nigeria struggles with corruption, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and related social ills. But these problems are not the monopoly of any ethnic group. They are symptoms of weak institutions, unemployment, poor governance, and systemic decay. To label one group as “the problem” is not only dishonest but a deliberate misrepresentation of reality. Those who indulge in such stereotypes should be challenged to present verifiable statistics. Otherwise, their hate speech should be treated as uninformed, mischievous malicious and potentially prosecutable under international hate-speech conventions.
Learning from History: The Road to Kigali
History teaches us that ethnic stereotyping is not harmless rhetoric. It is the slippery slope that led to catastrophic events such as the Rwandan genocide in 1994, where unchecked hate propaganda against the Tutsi minority resulted in the deaths of nearly one million people. Nigeria must avoid this path at all costs.
Already, past events such as the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) demonstrate the dangers of ethnic scapegoating. Post-war Nigeria, under General Yakubu Gowon, vowed “no victor, no vanquished,” but ethnic suspicion still lingers decades later. If not checked, hate speech could plunge the country back into chaos. Right-thinking Nigerians and elders must rise now to call their own communities to order before our nation is consumed by unnecessary violence.
Ndigbo Contributions to National Development
1. Commerce and Industry
The Igbo Apprenticeship System has been globally recognized as one of the world’s most successful indigenous business models. Studies from Ivy League universities in the United States and business schools across the globe now explore how this system creates sustainable wealth, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Igbo traders and industrialists have sustained commerce in Lagos, Kano, Onitsha, Aba, Port Harcourt, West African countries and beyond. Their ventures in transport, manufacturing, electricity power, pharmaceuticals, and real estate have boosted Nigeria’s GDP and generated thousands of jobs.
2. Sports and Global Recognition
From football to athletics, Ndigbo have raised Nigeria’s flag high at international competitions. Legendary footballers, boxers, and athletes of Igbo heritage have brought laurels home, inspiring generations and promoting national unity through sports.
3. Banking and Financial Services
Across Nigeria’s banking landscape, many Ndigbo professionals have distinguished themselves as executives, regulators, and innovators. Their presence in financial services has reinforced Nigeria’s integration into global finance and capital markets.
4. Industrial Backbone
From vehicle assembly plants in Nnewi to pharmaceutical industries in Onitsha, Ndigbo enterprises sustain industries that provide essential goods and services to millions of Nigerians, and West Africans. The contributions of Ndigbo demonstrate resilience in spite of marginalization in national politics.
Political Marginalization Despite Contributions
Ironically, despite their significant economic and social contributions, Ndigbo remain marginalized in Nigeria’s political structure. They have the least number of states among the major ethnic groups (only five, compared to six or seven in other regions). They have fewer senators and have not produced a president in contemporary Nigerian history. Yet, instead of resentment, Ndigbo continue to invest in every part of Nigeria, showing a spirit of republicanism and can-do resilience.
Corruption and Criminality: A National Problem, Not an Ethnic One
It bears repeating: corruption and criminality are not peculiar to any ethnic group. Nigeria’s corruption scandals, from the oil subsidy fraud to pension scams, and political embezzlement, have involved individuals across all regions and religions.
Drug trafficking and abuse are also national problems. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) publishes statistics on arrests and seizures, but these reports never isolate or stigmatize ethnic groups. Doing so would be unscientific and unconstitutional. Criminality is the behavior of individuals, not the destiny of an ethnic or religious group.
Those who habitually accuse Ndigbo, or any group, of monopolizing crime are either ignorant or acting out of deep-rooted malice. They must be reminded that such reckless speech could expose them to lawsuits, both within Nigeria and at the International Court of Justice, where hate speech is condemned as a crime against humanity.
The Psychological Roots of Ethnic Stereotyping
Stereotyping fellow Nigerians reflects a deep psychological problem. It reveals insecurity, misplaced aggression, and a failure to confront real challenges. Those who engage in hate speech and ethnic biases, often project their personal frustrations and insecurity onto innocent groups. Instead of blaming bad governance, unemployment, or institutional decay, they scapegoat a convenient “other.”
Education and exposure are supposed to correct such ignorance. Unfortunately, many “educated” Nigerians exhibit what has been called “education without enlightenment”, the condition where one attends school but allows prejudice, not knowledge, to shape their worldview.
The Way Forward: Unity in Diversity
1. National Reorientation
Nigeria needs a deliberate campaign from the family level of reorientation to remind citizens that our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. Government, civil society, families and the media must work together to counter hate speech with narratives of unity.
2. Enforcing Hate Speech Laws
Existing laws against hate speech must be enforced. Political leaders (some of whom are the culprits), media outlets, and social commentators must be held accountable for their words. Freedom of speech is not freedom to incite violence.
3. Promoting Cross-Ethnic Engagement
Every Nigerian has a duty to break down ethnic walls by engaging in genuine friendships, marriages, and partnerships across ethnic divides. We must see ourselves first as Nigerians before identifying with ethnicity .
4. Focusing on Real Problems
Instead of wasting energy on ethnic stereotyping, Nigerians should channel their energies toward demanding accountability from leaders, tackling unemployment, fixing power supply, improving education, and strengthening institutions. These are the real enemies of Nigeria, not our fellow citizens.
Conclusion
Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Hate speech and ethnic stereotyping threaten to weaken the bonds that hold the nation together. Those who vilify Ndigbo, or any other group, must be reminded that there are no statistics to support their claims. Corruption, drug trafficking, and other crimes are national challenges, not ethnic peculiarities.
Ndigbo, like other Nigerians, have made immense contributions to commerce, industry, sports, and national development. To cast them as the “problem” of Nigeria is dishonest, uninformed, despicable and dangerous.
It is time for Nigerians to introspect, abandon prejudice, and embrace unity. If we do not, we risk heading down the dark road of Rwanda’s Kigali, a road paved with hate speech, stereotypes, and unchecked bigotry. Right-thinking Nigerians must rise to call their people to order, to be more tolerant and thoughtful, lest we plunge our beloved country into avoidable chaos.
Only unity, justice, and mutual respect can secure Nigeria’s future.
Hold your political leaders, from your local governments, state governors and members of the states and national legislature accountable and leave Ndigbo or other ethnic groups out of our multidimensional poverty and collective frustrations.
Note: Sonny Iroche was a Senior Academic Fellow at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford.
One of Africa’s expert and leading voices in Artificial Intelligence. A member of UNESCO Technical Working Group on AI Readiness Assessment Methodology and a member of the National AI Strategy Committee.
