Within a framework of consociational theory, this paper discusses affirmative action policies used in Nigeria to cope with its heterogeneous ethnic composition. An introduction articulates the paper's basic assumptions and themes; the view is taken that political systems are forms of political technology, designed to achieve specific purposes. The paper begins by clarifying such concepts as federalism, ethnicity, and affirmative action. Then, ethnic heterogeneity is discussed as an inherent design problem for the Nigerian polity. Elements of consociational pluralism, defined as an arrangement of structures and institutions for dealing with ethnic pluralism, are outlined. Basically, these structures and institutions are said to require the proportional representation of all groups within government, with each group nonetheless retaining a high degree of autonomy to run its own affairs. This model of consociation is then related to ethical questions about the moral rights of groups and fairness and justice in selection criteria for affirmative action policies. The next section, examining Nigerian political history since 1960, focuses on institutional strategies used to promote power sharing and social integration. Nigeria is held to be a society of ethnic groups rather than individuals. The particulars of affirmative action in Nigeria are described in the following section, with special attention given to the issue of access to university education. In conclusion, affirmative action in Nigeria is compared to that in the United States. (KH)