The plights of Nigerian ethnic minorities, arising from marginalisation, account for various national issues, such as ethno-religious intolerance and crisis, ethnic militia, civil unrest, terrorism, banditry, among others. The study reveals that Nigerian media play crucial roles in the marginalisation, dehumanisation, and plights suffered by peoples branded ‘ethnic minorities'. The poor representation and negligence of the minorities aggravate the plights of the minorities. The study argues that by breaching media ethics, the Nigerian press violates African indigenous ethical principles. Also, media's misdeeds against the minorities amount to breach of ethical journalism. The chapter concludes that besides paying little or no attention to matters concerning ethnic minorities, Nigerian media aggravate the plights of ethnic minorities by continuously exhibiting misdeeds against them.
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It is quite problematic to emphasize only three major ethnic groups along with only about ten or more others, where there are over four hundred and eighty ethnic groups (Evwierhoma, 2007; Robert, 2015; Robert, Besong & Dibie, 2016; Ugwu & Ozoemena, 2019). Also, it is quite regrettable that Nigerian media most often place undue emphasis on the three major ethnic groups (Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo) in Nigeria, to the near exclusion of the rest over four hundred ethnic groups. Hausa is the most populous ethnic group and language in Nigeria, spread across the whole of Northern Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is divided into North-East, North-West and North-Central. The Yoruba are the indigenous people of Southwestern Nigeria. Yoruba states in Southwest are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo. The Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria are the indigenous people of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia. South-South has clusters of ethnic groups and languages along with six states viz: Cross River, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo. In view of problems arising from the strained emphasis on the three major ethnic groups along with the allied ten or more, this paper argues that the Nigerian mass media engages in the practice of making the image of and giving prominent attention to the three major ethnic groups and a few others, leaving out little or nothing about the other ethnic groups christened ‘ethnic minorities’.
It is quite surprising that despite affirming that Nigeria has over five hundred languages (Evwierhoma, 2007; Robert, 2015; Robert, Besong & Dibie, 2016; Ugwu & Ozoemena, 2019), ethnic groups are underrepresented as being two hundred and fifty, over three hundred, or about or over four hundred ethnic groups. It is surprising because each tribe has a language and vice versa. Thus, if the languages are over five hundred, the tribes (ethnic groups) are over five hundred. The numerous other ethnic groups are perpetually silenced, disregarded, endangered and eroded (Evwierhoma, 2007; Robert, 2015; Robert & Besong, 2016). It is an indisputable fact that whatever and/or whoever pays attention to and make its (and/or his/her) image with significant media contents and jingles automatically becomes well known, relevant and prominent (Ahmed & Chiakaan, 2011; Chiakaan, 2013; Robert & Besong, 2016; Robert & Besong, 2017). The simple reality here is that once the media makes the image of the ethnic minorities with significant media contents, programs and jingles, these ethnic groups are undoubtedly bound to become prominent, relevant, formalized and (more) developed. In view of the foregoing reality, this study rises to describe the poor representation and negligence of ethnic minorities by the Nigerian mass media as a breach of professional ethics. In other words, the paper considers media misrepresentation and negligence of ethnic minorities as a breach of media and journalism ethics.