Crawford VC, Ajayi enjoins Nigerians to promote cultural unity in diversity

The Vice Chancellor of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, Professor Isaac Rotimi Ajayi, has urged students, lecturers and the general society, without recourse to discrimination or affiliation, engender cultural relativism and acceptability at local, national and global spectrum by dismantling prejudices and stereotypes in our various settings.

The call was made at this year’s celebration of International Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which was organised, by the institution’s College of Business and Social Sciences particularly to promote cultural harmony and better understanding within and outside the university communities.

While saying, “the essence according to the World Body, UNESCO was “to enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful co-existence and unity.”

Ajayi stressed the importance of the occasion extended beyond assertion to increase in positive intercultural conversations that could lead to harmonious human existence, free of any kind of discrimination and exclusion in sensitive matters like race, ethnicity and gender.

As an institution of higher learning with students and members of staff from different cultural backgrounds from within and outside Nigeria, it is pertinent to commemorate this year edition in conjunction with United Nations with the theme “Cultural Distortion and Dividends of Diversity”.

In the same vein, the Dean, College of Business and Social Sciences, Professor Comfort Omorogbe enumerated the benefits of celebrating Cultural Diversity Day to include promotion of dialogue on diversity issues, mutual understanding, and values; and learning how to live together in harmony.

In her words, “a culturally diverse workforce is flexible, creative, accommodating and receptive” As a result, she advised students, members of staff, lecturers in attendance, as well as the public, to be exposed to new ideas, work ethics, develop sound knowledge of people backgrounds, tolerant and acquire sharpened senses of communication as Crawford University is endowed with people of varied culture.”

Highlights of the event include, lecturers and students exchanging pleasantries in local and international languages such as Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Igala, Edo, Ijebu, Efik/Ibibio, Urhobo and Ghanaian serving of local drinks and menu; quiz on general knowledge; while Monument Secondary School thrilled the audience with local songs and cultural dances. To crown the occasion, a group of Discussants comprising of Professor Femi Adepoju (Emeritus) University of Lagos; Dr. Rosemary Popoola, Covenant University; Dr. Bartholomew Agunnia Onyekwere and Dr. Esuh Ossai-Igwe Lucky of Crawford University elucidated challenges and gains of “Cultural Diversity and Distortion” toward advancement of social and peaceful environment at various levels, bringing the event to a close.