Multiculturalism as a socio-cultural component of the sustainable development in Nigeria

The concept of sustainable development has no longer been defined from a strictly environmental perspective for quite a few years now. The scope of the problem has been enlarged to include its social dimensions, leading notably to a renewed focus on the topic of national social and cultural diversity. Social component of sustainability is focused on human rights, social inclusion, civic engagements and aimed at preserving the stability of social and cultural systems, which includes the reducing of tensions and conflicts between people, maintaining a peaceful coexistence and tolerance between different nations and ethnicity. In order to achieve those sustainable development aims, our modern society should establish a more efficient decision-making system taking into account cultural diversity and encourage pluralism. This study therefore argues that multiculturalism is an indispensable tool for national integration, sustainable cultural development and consequently influence all spheres of the state policy making in Nigeria.