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In a bid to promote national unity and harmony in Nigeria, a renowned advocate for peace and unity and a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, Department of Religious and Peace Studies, Lagos State University, Dr. Mustapha Adebayo Bello, has outlined a series of strategies to combat these issues and foster harmony among Nigerians.
Dr. Bello outlined key strategies to address escalating ethnicity and religious tensions within the country. With Nigeria's diverse population encompassing various ethnic groups and religions, fostering cohesion has become a pressing concern to ensure stability and progress.
Amidst the rich tapestry of Nigerian society lies a complex web of ethnic and religious divisions that have, at times, strained the country's unity.
Dr. Mustapha Bello, a prominent figure in the campaign for social cohesion, recently shed light on innovative ways to mitigate these tensions and promote national unity.
Dr. Bello emphasised the importance of inclusive governance as a fundamental step towards fostering unity.
He emphasised the need for political leaders to represent the interests of all ethnic and religious groups, ensuring that policies are equitable and beneficial to all segments of society.
"Let government whether at the local, state or national level addresses the objectives for which they are in existence " he noted
By promoting inclusivity in governance, Dr. Bello believed that the government could demonstrate its commitment to unity and address the grievances fueling intercommunal tensions.
" Once the grievances of people such as provisions of basic social amenities and issue relating to poverty is addressed, ethnicity and religion tension will be reduced to the bearest minimum because people will no longer think about the tribe governing them"
Education is another key battleground in the fight against ethnic and religious discord. The university don stressed the significance of incorporating lessons on diversity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence into the national curriculum.
He believed that by instilling those values in the younger generation, Nigeria could build a more harmonious society that values its differences and celebrates its diversity.
"Functional education is key in resolving ethnicity and in promoting National unity, every citizen must be properly educated to know and demand their rights in shuning ethnicity and religion tensions"
Furthermore, Bello underscored the pivotal role of dialogue in resolving conflicts and bridging divides.
He advocated the establishment of platforms for open and honest discussions among different ethnic and religious groups.
" Every community leader must be engaged in resolving issue relating to ethnicity and religion tensions, they must be a forum where issues relating to discrimination among community members will be discussed and resolved"
He opined that through dialogue, misconceptions could be dispelled, grievances aired, and common ground identified, paving the way for greater understanding and mutual respect.
In addition to these strategies, Bello highlighted the importance of economic empowerment in promoting unity.
" Poverty give rooms for tensions, when people are empowered their will be peace" he affirmed
He recommended the creation of opportunities for all Nigerians to thrive and prosper, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, stressing that through that the country could reduce feelings of marginalisation and exclusion that often underpin social tensions.
As Nigeria navigates the complex terrain of ethnic and religious diversity, his visionary approach offers a roadmap for building a more cohesive and unified nation.
Bello rationalised that by embracing inclusivity, education, dialogue, and economic empowerment, Nigeria could chart a course towards a future where its myriad cultures and beliefs would anchor on a tapestry of unity and harmony.
