Eighteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Corruption promotes precarious ethnic unity and political stability in Nigeria. The growing political participation of the Nigerian youth since the #EndSars movement in 2020 has positioned itself as a threat to the existing political structure. This paper explores the latent function of corruption in a heterogeneous society like Nigeria and its current challenges, such as the precarious form of peace it faces. This study uses the social identity theory, identity theory, and self-categorization theory to explain the multiple roles played by ethnic, political, and religious leaders in establishing a precarious form of peace in Nigeria. The paper concludes that the growing political change and social movement of the youth in Nigeria have forged a new form of socio-cultural and political identity for a sustainable and united Nigeria.