Managing Diversity and Fault Lines in Nigeria

Nigeria today is at crossroads with many de-stabilizing flashpoints tarnishing the peace within. The problems that create misunderstandings, lack of trust, low acceptance of heterogeneity, violence, terrorism, negative conflict, unbridled greed for material wealth, corruption, violations of human dignity and human rights are multiplying day-by-day. Humans are social animals therefore, they tend to live in communities and set each other’s company. Families live together even if they do not require any material benefit from one another. Conflicts occur between family members and sometimes lead to destruction. This is because of diversity.

The essence of all religions as a propeller of human rights to promote peace and tolerance is being undermined, putting at stake the future of several generations in Nigeria, hence, eroding the possibility for a society that values peace, diversity, democracy, and citizenship. To start with, we need a proper understanding of the key points; which are diversity and management.

What is Diversity?

Diversity can be described as having a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experiences, and interests. In clear terms, It means understanding that each individual is special and recognizing our individual differences.  These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, political beliefs, and religious beliefs. 

Diversity means different things to different people. According to research, it is segmented into 3 kinds

-        Demographic diversity (our gender, race and sexual orientation),

-        Experiential diversity (affinities, hobbies, and abilities)

-        Cognitive diversity (how we approach problems and think about things).

Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and culturally diverse society that has witnessed conflicts arising from this ethnic and cultural diversity. In Nigeria today, we have diversity in almost all areas, talk of culture, language ethnicity, cultural diversity, federalism, and national integration, etc. Every ethnic group wants to be recognized, as such, the scramble for power has plunged the country into coups, civil wars and more recently could be argued to have contributed to the event of insurgency. The country is only great because of its diversity. The reason why the country is great is because of its diversity. It is because we have here people of every race, people of every tribe, bringing in their different cultures and strengths. All the things that make each one of our ethnic groups great come together in one country. In an interview conducted for the Vice president of Nigeria, he agrees that Nigeria is a country with a lot to get from its diversity” “We are greater when we are together than when we are apart.

This country is greater together than apart. Every one of our ethnic groups needs the support of the other. When people speak of Nigeria and respect this country, it is because of the diversity, it is because of the strength in the numbers that we are considered great. That is why the whole of Africa looks to us for direction. If we were one small enclave nobody will look at us with the seriousness they look at us today”. The truth is that from Nigeria’s inception, every political/social dispute or malaise in the country has its roots in Nigeria’s cultural/religious differences. And the only genuine and permanent solution to the senseless religious/cultural killings that go on endlessly in Nigeria is the division of the country along the existing cultural/religious divides.