Congrats on a successful session. Some thoughts of an outsider: The stress on local agency in the creation of Nigeria is absolutely crucial as is the point about emphasizing the role of 'minority groups' more. @FolaFagbule @DoubleEph

I agree with the importance of education but the issue challenges run deeper and indeed, this is strongly implied in both the authors' remarks and the questions: the entire framework of life is at stake. From this viewpoint, the challenge of making Nigeria a nation is unique

The reason is that trying to amalgamate peoples who have had deeply antagonistic historical relationships due largely to the Trans Saharan/Atlantic slave trades is a monumental one. Domestic involvement in the slave trade is treated very honestly but local consequences deeper

Further, the North's historical trajectory was northwards and eastwards (via Kanem towards the Nile); the South's trajectory was towards the Atlantic Coast. Unlike French colonialism who controlled North Africa, British colonialism had to try to wrench the North southwards

This 'wrenching' southwards was and is no easy task as it goes against the grain of hundreds of years of history. The challenge (political, economic, cultural, religious) should not be underestimated but it can be done. Oyo and Nupe relevant as they faced both north and south.

The general point is that there is a whole culture aka 'tradition' inherited from pre-colo days which needs deep reforms. This is THE lesson of the Asian experience, whether one approaches reforms from above like Japan or from below like China/Vietnam. Not just 'education' then

Yet many are deeply attached to these traditions and rightly proud of them. But can one release the energies needed for development without broad econ/political and cultural reforms as the Asians had to do?

In this regard I don't think the US federal model would do the trick. First, it's not as decentralized as may appear. There is enormous political/economic and budgetary power at the federal level in the US. Also, there is a particular configuration of white hegemony + liberalism

While I agree that a certain amount of decentralization is unavoidable and positive, there is also a great need for a strong central state like in China/Japan/Singapore to drive the development process

So, the tasks facing Nigerians are unique in a non-trivial sense. The heritage of centuries of history have to be reformed in the context of a very hostile global environment. But it can be done. Formation's more analytical sequel beckons. Bon courage!