IJAH 5(1), S/NO 16, JANUARY, 2016 86 International Journal of Arts and Humanities (IJAH) Bahir Dar- Ethiopia Vol. 5(1), S/No 16, January, 2016:86-99 ISSN: 2225-8590 (Print) ISSN 2227-5452 (Online) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijah.v5i1.7 Federalism, State Creation and the Minority Ethnic Groups in Nigeria’s National Integration Project Imuetinyan, Festus, Ph.D. Department of Public Administration, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail:
[email protected] +2348023248857 & Uyi-Ekpen, Ogbeide, Ph.D. Department of Political Science, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. E-mail:
[email protected] +2348037705721 Abstract Nigeria gained independence in 1960 as a tripartite regional federal system which promoted the hegemony of three major ethnic groups (the Yorubas in the west, the Ibos in the east and the Hausa-Fulanis in the north). The regions unfortunately did not form homogeneous ethnic entities as they were made up of myriads of ethnic minorities who were subject of internal colonialism. Consequently, ethnic minority groups in Nigeria have been engaged not just in different efforts to reduce the dominance of the major ethnic groups but also on how best to live side by side with them. Federalism and states creation exercises are two major solutions that have been tried over time in the quest Copyright © IAARR 2016: www.afrrevjo.net/ijah Indexed African Journals Online (AJOL) www.ajol.info IJAH 5(1), S/NO 16, JANUARY, 2016 87 for national integration in Nigeria and they are the major focus of the paper. Both measures have helped to multiply the arenas of politics as well as rewards.