BELIEF IN CHUKWU, DIVINITIES AND SPIRITS: THE ANCHOR OF IGBO CONTRIBUTIONS TO NIGERIAN NATIONAL INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The Igbo is one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They have had  chequered socio-political, economic, technological and cultural histories in Nigeria since 1960. Their perceived vagaries of fortunes, rooted in the defeat they suffered during the Nigeria-Biafra war and its aftermath, have not deterred them from contributing significantly to national integration and development efforts in Nigeria. These sustained contributions are anchored on their belief in Chukwu, divinities and spirits, who are believed to have the power to reward good deeds and punish injustice, oppression, marginalization and all forms of bad deeds. The paper identifies conflict with Christian doctrines; lack of proper and digital documentation; possible emergence of syncretistic practices; lack of interest in religious activities among the youths and influence of globalization, among the challenges facing Igbo belief in Chukwu, divinities and spirits. The paper recommends, among others, the need for Christians to appreciate Igbo traditional values that are not obnoxious and use them along their Christian doctrines and  promotion of Igbo traditional religious and cultural heritage by the Igbo at home and in the diaspora through social media, as the way forward. The paper concludes by stressing that whatever that will be done to strengthen Igbo belief in Chukwu, divinities and spirits should be highly encouraged in order to sustain their contributions to Nigerian national integration and development striving.