CITAD unveils book to combat ethnic profiling in Nigeria’s multicultural society

The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has introduced a new book to raise awareness against ethnic profiling and cultural infiltration in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity in the country’s multicultural society.

SolaceBase reports that the public unveiling of the book, titled Ethnic Profiling and the Challenges of Inclusion in Nigeria: A Survey of the Literature by Ibrahim Muazzam, took place on Thursday in Kano.

CITAD’s Executive Director, Y. Z. Yau’u, highlighted the book’s significance in promoting critical thinking within academic communities across the country.

Yau’u explained that the launch included a three-day interactive philosophical session where 45 scholars from various institutions gathered to discuss the book’s themes with Muazzam. He noted, “We honor Malam Ibrahim Muazzam as one of the most esteemed intellectuals produced by Bayero University Kano (BUK), known for his deep knowledge of philosophy and political theory.”

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“In his time, he taught classes on both philosophy and political theory. Today, no lecturer at BUK can teach political theory or philosophy with the depth he brought to these subjects.”

He added, “The learning opportunities that older students had under his guidance have been lost, so we felt it was important to recreate this experience for younger lecturers who never had the chance to learn from Malam Muazzam directly. He retired some years ago, so we brought academics from universities nationwide to spend three days under his tutelage, giving them the chance to gain insights they missed as undergraduates or postgraduates.”

Yau’u also noted that Muazzam’s book, although written some years ago, explores the impact of ethnic identities on Nigerian politics and governance, examining how these identities are shaped as social constructs rather than inherent traits. Muazzam argues that people often adopt identities to create separations within society, a concept the book seeks to challenge.

Speaking on behalf of the author, Prof. Ibrahim Bello Kano, one of Muazzam’s former students, explained that the book’s theme resonate beyond Nigeria, addressing similar issues in countries such as Cameroon and South Africa.

He further emphasized that the book would serve as a resource for researchers and students alike, offering valuable insights to the general public on the dangers of ethnic and religious profiling.

“The book provides a framework for recognizing behaviors that undermine our common humanity. I believe that Malam Ibrahim Muazzam’s work makes a substantial contribution toward fostering understanding and respect in our society.”