| DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: CRITICAL FACTORS FOR BUILDING AN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY, A PRESENTATION BY BRIGADIER GENERAL SANI KUKASHEKA USMAN (RTD) mni fnipr fapra fnarc fspsp FIOARM, SARKIN YAKIN KANWAN KATSINA, AT THE INVESTITURE AND INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF ENGINEER EMEKA ILOEGBUNAM AS PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF ABUJA MUNICIPAL AT EMERALD HALL, A CLASS EVENT CENTRE, KASHIM IBRAHIM WAY, MAITAMA, ABUJA ON SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST 2022 PROTOCOLINTRODUCTION It is a great honour to be in your midst as Guest Speaker to discuss this important issue, our diversity, equity, and inclusion as a critical factor for nation-building and an egalitarian society in Nigeria, especially at this critical time of our national history. I would like to thank the organisers for the kind invitation and deeming me fit to speak on this auspicious occasion and for finding me worth of your Honorary members and conferment of Meritorious Award.However, before I proceed further, I would like to also congratulate Engineer, Rotarian Emeka Iloegbunam (PHF), on his investiture as the 5th President of Rotary Club International of Abuja Municipal today. It is important at this point toclarify what we mean by diversity, equity, and inclusion briefly. This will inform our understanding of how they are situated in my brief presentation. Diversity means the presence of different and multiple characteristics that make up individual and collective identities, including race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, socio-economic status, language, and physical ability. On the other hand, equity is the process of identifying and removing the barriers that create disparities in access to resources and means and achieving fair treatment and equal opportunities to thrive. Lastly, inclusion is the creation of environments where any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to participate fully. From what we’ve learned, it’s clear that these three things are crucial to building a democratic or egalitarian society.2Diversity, equity, and inclusion matter because they help build a fair society that allows all people to have equal opportunities. They bring together people, perspectives and ideas to help create stronger bonds among individuals and organisations. Groups that do not implement diversity, equity, and inclusion practices miss opportunities to tap into their people’s potential for effective performance. Diverse teams are more innovative and make better decisions, and diverse companies have better shareholder returns. The moral case for diversity, equity, and inclusion is that everyone has something of value to contribute. Society is responsible for addressing barriers and historical factors that have caused unfair conditions for underrepresented groups. For example, from a moral standpoint, because one of the missions of the Rotary Club of Abuja Municipal is to improve society, it is expected to be diverse, inclusive, and equitable in all areas. This is one of the ways it can build an egalitarian society. 3.It is important to note that promoting and measuring inclusion among a group of people is extremely difficult. First, leadership must develop a well-rounded understanding of “inclusion.” Then, people must consistently gather feedback from all members of society regarding their current or proposed efforts. This is crucial because you cannot have inclusion without people’s opinions. Even though diversity and inclusion are different, you can’t have either one without a culture that is open to different points of view. A close-minded culture will ultimately fail to facilitate any semblance of diversity or inclusion. It is the leadership’s responsibility to acknowledge that different perspectives matter overtly. The more diverse an organisation such as the Rotary Club of Abuja Municipal gets, the more critical inclusion becomes. Inclusive efforts need to focus on making every single member feel like they are respected and trusted, regardless of their diversity. 4.Diversity and inclusion are related, but they are not the same thing. For a group or community to be diverse, it needs to include people from many different places and backgrounds. Being inclusive means that people of different backgrounds and identities feel and are valued members of the group, such as the Rotary Club of Abuja Municipal, who participate on equal footing. The world around us is changing faster than we could imagine. In an increasingly heterogeneous society, a challenging social environment, and the world at large, to ensure societal survival and prosperity, apart from using the latest tools and technologies to gain a competitive advantage, it has now become imperative that the idea and cause of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” are championed as well (ShamShad, 2021). Countries that value them have a better and more peaceful society that ultimately enables them to thrive, even under challenging circumstances. 5.A global survey by the Society for Human Resource Management ranked Nigeria in the top five most diverse countries in the world and simultaneously ranked the country 45th, out of a total of 47, sustaining national diversity. The survey outcome illustrates a paradox between the country’s diversity potential and actual harnessing. This is a result of many reasons, including a weak institutional and government framework (notably the Federal Character Principle in the context of public service). It is also due to the voluntaristic approach of the country (Adeleye et al., 2012). 6.Nigeria provides an interesting context to explore the concepts of diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, with its unusually high levels of diversity across ethnic, cultural, racial, religious, linguistic, age, and socio-economic dimensions. Nigeria’s people belong to 250–400 different ethnolinguistic groups, with three major ethnic groups: Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. Nigerians also belong to several different religions, with Islam and Christianity accounting for approximately 50 and 40 per cent of the entire population. Islam is dominant in the northern region, while Christianity is the major religion in the south; indigenous African religions are also commonly practised around the country. Regarding age, 41.5 per cent of the total population is in the 0–14 year bracket, 55.5 per cent in the 15–64 range, and 3.1 per cent are aged 65 and above. Nigeria’s characteristics require stakeholders to embrace the spirit of diversity, equality, and inclusion in their activities to build an egalitarian society. 7.According to Sowell (2004), the intersection of ethnic and religious identities in Nigeria and the circumstances in which the country was created have been a steady source of civil strife in the country several decades after the attainment of political independence. These challenges have been compounded by apparent educational, economic, and social inequalities among the ethnic, religious groups and regions. In addition, uneven socio-economic development poses an “existential threat” to the somewhat divided country. It has brought to the fore the issue of managing diversity to ensure equal opportunity and inclusiveness. At the national level, Nigerian governments have used the slogan “unity in diversity” for many years to show that diversity is good for the country and that there is an immediate need to promote equality and inclusion in society and organizations. AIM8.Therefore, this presentation aims to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion to build an egalitarian society in Nigeria. SCOPE9.To achieve the aim mentioned above, the presentation will cover the following: a.Highlight diversity, equity, and inclusion in the context of Nigeria.b.Challenges of diversity, equity, and inclusion.c.Strategies for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for building an egalitarian society.d.Conclusion. CONTEXT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN NIGERIA10.Diversity in Nigeria reflects the inclusion status and developmental level of an individual or group of individuals. Nigeria is home to more than 200 million people who identify in similar or different ways based on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, geographical location, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, educational status, or other ideologies. Gender-speaking, the country is constitutionally patriarchal, numerically binary, and suppressive of non-binary gender expression. The young population far outnumbers older people, although political power and access are controlled by the minority (Adeleye, Atewologun, and Matanmi, 2014). 11.The focus of diversity and inclusion in Nigeria is at the early developmental levels of demographic equity. Expressly, inclusion is limited to ethnicity, religion, and binary gender. There are preliminary talks and legislation around citizens with physical challenges, such as wheelchair access in public buildings. However, it is unclear if those with additional medical, learning or special education needs will be remembered soon. In Nigeria, quota systems ensure that all the different ethnic groups are involved in inclusive efforts.12. The most vulnerable groups prone to social exclusion in Nigeria include women, those with disabilities, the displaced, the unemployed and the sick. Inequality reduces the opportunities these groups of people have toward contributing to societal development. The levels of social inclusion vary from region to region and state to state; thus, tackling its concerns should be context-specific. Therefore, policies that consider these peculiarities and incorporate social inclusion with due consideration given to diversity and equity are inevitable in building a sustainable and egalitarian society. THE CHALLENGES OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, AND INCLUSIVITY13.Generally, aligning diversity, equity, and inclusion practises with unique goals and implementing them is a big commitment. Unfortunately, no international best practises can be copied and pasted from one country to another because the people differ in their demographic characteristics. In recent times, more women have been allowed into political positions, though still far below the recommended figure by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other career types previously dominated by men. However, the idea that women “belong to the kitchen” or are better suited for specific jobs is still common. Before, families were more likely to send their male children to institutions of higher education and have their daughters get married. Gender equality is a relatively new concept, especially in rural parts of Nigeria where women, especially widows and single women, are regularly abused, maltreated, or denied space. Marrying underage girls and practising forced circumcision in many parts of the country is still legal. 14.Socio-economically speaking, the gap between the rich and poor is so huge that the latter worship the former for survival. Young children face discrimination and are often meant to be seen, not heard. Age is treated as an essential equivalence to experience, wisdom, and knowledge, which constitutes a demotivating barrier to the creative intellectual development of our nation’s youth. 15.In today’s Nigeria, a stronghold of groupthink exists. Tribalism and ethnocentric worldviews mirror slavery and post-slavery systemic experiences of minority groups in the United States. Differences are treated from a more or less legitimate perspective, and it is almost legitimate for the numerically dominant groups to treat numerically subordinated groups as lesser humans who should be grateful for their lives. Those who hold different views or directly oppose those of the dominant groups are marginalised, discriminated against, oppressed, and excluded. 16.The minorities have been taught to accept their fate and be grateful for their oppression. In the same country where a high senior secondary school student with a score of 250/300 is denied admission to a federal university, another with a score of 150 gets into medical school legally, solely because of their parents’ place of origin. In this same country, each Nigerian is a citizen on paper, not in practical terms because of equity and inclusion (Adeleye, Atewologun, and Matanmi, 2014).17.The minority is often threatened, forced to leave, or sent back to their home state and told that they do not belong. Like in any other country, Nigeria has diversity. However, taking equality and inclusion from paper to practise and leveraging diversity is Nigeria’s primary challenge. Inclusive practises in the country are still in their infancy. The autocrats enjoy their supremacy and want things to remain the way they are, but the troubled desire and optimism that sooner or later they will be remembered. This situation illustrates diversity, equity, and inclusion problems in governance and developmental processes. STRATEGIES FOR ROTARY CLUB IN ADVANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITYAND INCLUSION FOR THE CREATION OF AN EGALITARIAN SOCIETY 18.Every member of the Rotary Club has a role to play in assisting the government in building an egalitarian society. I shall discuss some of the strategies that could be employed in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in building a democratic society: Cultivate the habit of belonging19.A long-term commitment is needed to create a diverse and inclusive organisation and be willing to have meaningful (and sometimes uncomfortable) conversations. However, the payoff can be more extensive. It could include greater engagement, productivity, and retention of group members. This is in addition to the potential of delivering a better humanitarian service to a broader society. Therefore, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion as a journey and not a destination would ensure that each member of the Rotary Club of Abuja Municipal contributes maximally to supporting the Nigerian government in building an egalitarian society. Be Intentional20.I know the Rotary Club of Abuja has a history of being well-intentioned. However, to create and sustain an egalitarian society where everyone feels heard and fairly treated, members need to evolve from being well-intentioned to being intentional by coming together and investing in the people’s cultural values. Then, at a high level, start by looking at behaviours that yield equitable benefits for you, your partners, and the community at large and taking action to integrate inclusive practises across these groups. Remove obstacles21.In building an egalitarian society, it is crucial to create an accommodative and equitable environment where people feel like they can bring their whole person, have a seat and a voice at the table, and feel heard. To achieve this, there are systemic barriers you must break down. The most important of these barriers are religion and tribal discrimination. This provided a sobering reminder of the ongoing disparities that have widened the gap among the Nigerian citizens of different tribes, and religions, occasioned by politics. For the Rotary Club to do its part in building a society where everyone has the same rights, it must break down this barrier. Broaden Your Definition of Diversity in Membership22.Gender and race are significant aspects of diversity in giving the public access to becoming a member of an organisation. Expanding the Rotary Club’s goals and focus to include other communities that may be underrepresented may become necessary. For instance, you could leverage the National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which often comes in October, to engage the disabled in your activities. This may be an excellent time to reassess the practises of the club and look for ways to make its culture more inclusive through the engagement of the disabled. CONCLUSION23.In this presentation, I have discussed how diversity, equity, and inclusion can be promoted to build an egalitarian society. We must first distinguish the three factors to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion. Then, begin assessing our institutions and spaces and then seek to make these spaces more inclusive with equity. Subsequently, we must consider equity in all our efforts through programme implementation or other means. Even though diversity efforts are about who is represented and who is included, they are not the same as making a society that includes everyone. An inclusive society does not simply mean that people from various groups are included. It is concerned with what their inclusion in that organisation or environment means. This is where equity comes in. Therefore, a democratic society requires practical consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture is essential to realising Rotary’s vision. By recognising that people from some groups have faced barriers to membership, participation, and leadership, members should commit to advancing equity in all areas, starting with membership, so that everyone has the resources, opportunities, networks, and support they need to thrive.24.Thank you for listening. REFERENCESAdeleye, I., Atewologun, D. and Matanmi, O. (2014) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Nigeria: Historical Context and Emerging Issues, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271823668, Accessed on 1 August 2022Adeleye, I., F. Aja- Nwachukwu and Y. Fawehinmi (2012), “Managing diversity in Nigeria: the Chevron way”, CIPMN Human Resource Management Journal, 4 (1), 1–13.Diversity and Inclusion: How the Mirror Reflects Nigeria, Okeyview (2022), https://blogs.lt.vt.edu/okeydiversity/2019/04/01/diversity-and-inclusion-what-the-mirror-reflects-nigeria/,Accessed on August 3, 2022.ShamShad, Q. (2020). Benefits and Challenges of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-challenges-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-shamshad-quamar on August 5, 2022.Sowell, T. (2004) Affirmative Action around the World: An Empirical Study, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.National Association of Counties (2021). Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Key Terms and Definitions. https://www.naco.org/resources/featured/key-terms-definitions-diversity-equity-inclusion |
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