History Paper 2 WASSCE (SC), 2016

Question 2

In what five ways did economic activities promote inter-group relations in Nigeria in the pre-colonial times?

Observation

This question was fairly popular and reasonably well answered. The question demands how economic activities promoted inter group relations rather than the advantages of economic activities as discussed by most of the candidates who attempt the question. However, candidates are expected to mention the under listed points:

(i) Trade linked many communities together as people travelled to other zones for exchange of goods.

(ii) Production of goods depended largely on geographical location and consequently on exchange at inter-state level. e.g. people from the forest zone had to travel to the savannah in other to obtain goods from the north and vice versa.

(iii) Agricultural activities depended much on the life zone. While the forest region encouraged the growth of kolanuts, yams etc. cattle only survived in the open grassland, thus the interaction of people from the various life zones.

(iv) Mining centres also attracted people from other zones who came to obtain their products.

(v) Craftsmen not only sold their products but settled in other parts of the country. e.g. Kano tinners, Bini carvers, Akwa blacksmiths etc.