Tribalism, often go with negative consequences especially when it is used to exclude others by taking away their rights, status, or independence. 
It is often fueled by competition and the perception of a common threat, and it can impede development.
Just like tribalism, tribal bigotry in the other hand, is an intolerance towards people from a different tribe or social group, and one of the major reasons identified for being tribalistic, could be one’s loyalty to own tribe or social group.
In this report, tribalism and tribal bigotry will be interchangeably used to drive home the point of how the social dysfunction they create to limit societal growth.
Over the years, tribalism emanating from various tribes has influenced leadership and politics, which has led to several crisis, insurgencies and affected the growth and development of our country and still continues to be a major deciding factor in the leadership and progress of many sectors including political, religious and economic in Nigeria.
However, in other to check such discrepancies and discrimination amongst the different ethnic nationalities, tribes and peoples in Nigeria, the Federal Character Commission was established in 1976, to implement and enforce the Federal Character Principle of Fairness and Equity in the distribution of Public posts and socioeconomic infrastructures among federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is an initiative to curb dominance and foster a sense of belonging and balance in Nigeria’s political and administrative setup.
Section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, captures the federal character saying: ‘‘The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies.’’
Based on the constitution, the purpose of the federal character was to prevent the dominance by any sectional group, be it ethnic, geographic or religious, in the country’s political governance.
With this brief analysis, states governments, private entities, organizations and institutions are expected to tow the same path of fairness and equity and guard against dominance by a particular ethnic group.
Contrary to the above, out of curiosity, this reporter undertook an investigation of NANA MODEL COLLEGE, WARRI, a boarding and day student Mixed Secondary School situated a very Serene environment in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The first thing that caught the undercover reporter’s attention was the large number of female staff in the school begining from the Principal to the least staff. It was discovered that about 85% of the staff were female. Very few male staff were learnt to be in the school, which obviously confirmed the female gender dominance in the school.
Further investigation alleged that majority of the teachers probably from that geographical location often influenced their posting, hence some have been in the school for years, and if posted, they quickly influenced their posting back to the school. What could be their reasons? Only those in charge of their posting can tell.
Then again, it was conspicuously affirmed during interaction with some of the staff that majority of those working in the school, about 80% of them are of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, the host tribe to the school.
Findings further revealed that internal administration is also done in line with ethnicity and tribe, as competence and qualifications are not considered with instances of a junior staff member being assigned to head a senior which is ethically against the civil service rules.
How then, can such an institution grow? How can the standard remains when such discrimination, tribal and gender dominance grossly exist within the authority?
Some parents who spoke to this reporter under anonymity disclosed that the standard of the school is falling geometrically as majority of competence hands (Teachers) have been posted from the school as a result of ethnicity and tribal politics playing in the system.
It was alleged that a good number of staff presently serving at the school, had their posting influence back to the school after their transfer, while some who have been transfered from the school are still holding sensitive positions and resident in the school as a result of their tribal influence.
Reliable source revealed, that a good number of principals in like schools across the state had their posting influenced after parting with huge sum of money up to Three Million Naira (N3,000,000) exchange hands.
An internal source who is privy to how NANA MODEL COLLEGE is run, told this investigative journalist that none indigene staff are not allowed to discipline indigenous students of Itsekiri extractions that must have violated school rules and exhibits indiscipline or misconduct.
The internal source also revealed that most parents are withdrawing their children and wards from the school due to the fallen standard and poor administration of the present authority. The source also alleged that only two persons (Staff), the principal and one other, run the school like a private property, usurping other staff offices with gross impunity believing their ethnicity has got them covered.
The question this reporter sought an answer is, will this ethnic and tribal bigotry help the school, the students and the society? Many communities and towns have had such golden opportunities in time past to have schools with boarding houses/hostels, but due to poor management, ethnicity and tribalism, they are today in their sorry state, and some no more.
Under the current negligent management, boarding students are also suffering poor welfare in terms of basic amenities and feeding. In the guise of not having enough funds, meals for boarding students have lost quality and quantity.
Many parents are worried that their children and wards attending the school are coming home looking sick and emaciated from malnourishment, one of the major reasons parents are withdrawing their children from the famous Nana Model College.
The Delta state Governor, the ministry of Education and its Commissioners had a lot to do as they cannot be exonerated from the happenings in the aforementioned school. They are aware that majority of the teachers in that school are from the same towns or area the school is sited, but even if they are not aware, questions needed to be asked if a teacher is insisting on being posted to a particular school.
Beside, the headship of schools is not supposed to be acquire with money but merited and not limited to a particular school. There is the need to rotate school principals after a number of years. It helps to develop places, and also bring out the qualities and expertise in each of them. Two things happen when someone is allowed to remain in one particular place or position for so long. It is either he or she is subduing the growth and development of such institution, organization or company, or he or she is reviving it.
It is therefore an appeal to all authority concern, to make amends in the area of gender balance in NANA MODEL COLLEGE, WARRI, and gender equality should be held unto.
In the same vein, it does not matter whether or not the school is situated in your place, your profession is not limited to one place.
Give others the chances to experience your culture, values and heritage by allowing them come to your place and you go to other places. It is with this that we will respect other peoples culture, values and customs. It is also a way of selling out our culture and values to the children that are being formed.
GODWIN-MARIA UTUEDOYE, IS A JOURNALIST. HE WRITES FROM UGHELLI