By Christel Odili
President Muhammedu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja urged laureates of the Nigeria National order of the merit (NNOM) award to come up with practical solutions and reccomendations to develop policies and best manage our diversity as a nation and foster harmonious inter-ethic relations in Nigeria.
The president who was represented by the secretary of the Governor’s forum Boss Mustapha said the success of regional integration has often been a fiction of not just getting the structure right but deep political commitment from key actors.
Buhari futher said solidarity amongst consitutents units expressed through well designed mechanisms is an important determinant of long term viability and economic health of federation particularly merging ones.
He also said Nigeria as the most populous country in Africa, there are huge opportunities for diversity, that when harnessed will strengthen public institutions for national integration.
The permanent secretary, office of the secretary to the Government of the federation Mr William Alo in his remarks said the NNOM is on of the cardinal programs of the government aimed at harnessing individuals who in one way have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria.
Alo who was representing the SGF also said the organization is know to excel in transparency.
The keynote speaker professor oladipo Adamolekun, NNOM in his lecture policy imperatives for diversity management: Nigeria in comparative perspective spoke about the country’s experience in diversity management from 1954 to data based on the challenges of diversity management and also gave recommendations.
“if indeed a well-defined problem is half-way to being solved, we cannot make sustainable progress towards achieving a healthy diversity without committing to an understanding of it’s full dimensions” he said
The theme of this year’s 11th annual forum of laureates is the imperative of unity in diversity