Memoirs as Instruments for Strengthening National Integration: Shehu Shagari’s Beckoned to Serve in Perspectives

Abstract

The problem of national integration has been a matter of concern for so long, and although previous governments have attempted to promote unity and national integration through a number of policies and interventions, the problem has not been fully solved. Shagari being the first executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has attempted to promote national integration through a number of ways which were given in his memoir Beckoned to Serve. This paper explores Shehu Shagari’s strategies for achieving national integration. Excerpts from the memoir, which served as data were collected by purposive sampling, though other secondary sources were also consulted to confirm data from the memoir. The data was later analyzed using social integration theory. This research brought to fore some of the strategies followed by Shagari towards national unity and the relevance of some positive traits in promoting national unity.