The first female pharmacist VC in Nigeria and the current Vice chancellor Chrisland University Abeokuta, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola has called on Nigerians to embrace “unity in diversity” as it is the only way to build a better Nigeria.
Prof. Chinedum made the call during her lecture presentation “Engineering Nigeria to maximize the Strength in her Diversity” held on August 11, 2018 at the 45th anniversary reunion of Federal Government College, Enugu.
As a keynote speaker of the occasion, Prof. Babalola said “we are the ones the world wants to help Nigeria maximize her diversity”.
According to the erudite professor “We should not in any way, try to alter them and what they represent, so that they conform to a general pattern. If we do that, we would lose the beauty and essence in variety, and thus arouse a conflict in the scheme of things.
“We should embrace these differences and find expression for them in the transformation process of the country, so that they will strengthen the bond we share and move the nation further.
“We cannot have a distinct and united voice if we are not distinct and united. Let us preserve those attributes that distinguish the various elements of our nation and commit those attributes to effectual use”.
She thereby reminds Nigerians that, “The diversity of our country earns Nigeria global recognition and respect.
However, she frowned at the “crisis in diversity” which has been a stumbling block in Nigeria starting from the 1966-1970 civil wars, different intra state and tribal killings, down to the present crisis of Boko Haram insurgence and Fulani herdsmen.
Prof. Babalola added that the major reasons for most crises in Nigeria can be traced back to issues dealing with improper funding or a lack of attention from the ruling government.
“However, I want to stress the case that poor and ineffective leadership has been the main problem of our nation and that division along ethnic lines is not the solution”.
In other to ensure political stability, she enjoined the government to involve the citizens in her different project, thus “it is essential that every citizen, irrespective of tribe or status, has a voice and can be heard.
“The House of Representatives should therefore institute programs that duly allow for interactions between them and the people they represent.
“They should know first-hand, the cries of their people and how they can be pacified. They should also know first-hand, the strength of their people and how they can foster progress in the country
“To deal with this, a proper formula has to be adopted that ensures that every state, every local government and every constituency is provided with sufficient funds for its development projects”, she said.
On that same note, she urged the religious bodies to help in promulgating peace; “all religion should always preach about the sanctity of life”.
In the course of the programme, some of the projects carried out by the 77th and 78th set of the school were commissioned, including water project which had lingered since inception of the school due to inability to get water by reservoir (well) and borehole.
