2016 Cultural Diversity Day

2016 CULTURAL DIVERSITY DAY: NIGERIA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY ON MY MIND

    

     The last time I thoroughly checked, 21^st May each year, the global community celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity. This unarguably implies that, today, Nigeria is expected to join other members of the world to commemorate the 2016 edition of the remarkable event.

      In 2001, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity; hence in December 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its unanimous resolution, declared May 21 annually to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

     Indeed, cultures such as dancing, masquerading, dressing, sewing, hunting, fishing, singing, wrestling, moulding of sculptures, painting, and so on, are essential developmental tools in any country. Culture is strongly connected with identity; and identity expressed through culture is a necessity for all human developments. It creates the fundamental building blocks in our respective personalities and in the ties that link us to various communities as well as any nation we find ourselves.

     Culture plays a unique and crucial role in a development policy especially issues relating to human rights. A free and staunch cultural heritage has the tendency of promoting other rights and values to include freedom of expression, diversity and debate about needs in a society. In the same vein, culture is a key player in the link between freedom of expression and democratization.

     Culture can also encourage the economic growth of either a nation or an individual. For instance, a country that’s tremendously gifted with swimming, which is a globally recognized lucrative sporting activity, can substantially boost its Gross National Product (GNP) if a meaningful attention is given to such heritage. Creative areas including music, paintings, drawings and sewing, can equally serve as revenue sources. In fact, the encounter between culture, creativity, technology and economy embodies a great potential in creating work places and increasing exports, and also contributes to social inclusion.

    Culture can also assist in checking socio-political and religious crises or differences. It ensures unity during crisis, and influences identity, debate and dialogue; thus, it is needed for nation building, and for peace and reconciliation. Needless to say; it inspires change, which we all immensely anticipate. Survey indicates that cultural cooperation is one of the most equality-oriented form of co-operations in existence.

    The entertainment industry cannot be left out while discussing the impact of cultural heritage on nation building. Unarguably, the current unprecedented strive of the famous film-making community in Nigeria popularly known as ‘Nollywood’ is solely a product of the country’s cultural endowment, likewise that of the music industry. The creative ingenuity invariably found among Nigerian citizenry is the reason the country’s entertainment industry in its entirety is presently recognized as a sector to reckon with globally. 

    Similarly, the tourism of any country cannot be discussed without mentioning the country’s cultural diversity, because the former remains one of the products of the latter anywhere in the world. It is obvious that the cultural heritage of any society contributes over sixty-five percent (65%) of its tourist sector, which remains one of the paramount Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) sources of any developed society.  

     Surely, tourism is part of the backbone or engine room of any developed country across the globe, and suchlike phenomenon wouldn’t be possible without the impact of cultural diversity of the country in question. This implies that Nigeria, which is made up of over two hundred and fifty (250) ethnic groups in which each of the groups is endowed with different cultural resources, can as well consider harnessing her tourist sector as she is currently thinking of economic diversification or beyond oil and gas.

     As the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, there is a compelling need for the leadership of this country to acknowledge that our cultural diversity is a stimulator of creativity, and investing in the creativity can transform societies. Hence, it is our civic responsibility to develop education and intercultural skills in our young ones as well as learn to live together in the diversity of our cultures, languages and religions in order to bring the desired change.

     Against this backdrop, there’s no gain reiterating that reviewing the Nigeria’s cultural diversity by the apt quarters or authorities such as the Ministry of Information and Culture with a view to boosting her tourism industry that’s ostensibly incapacitated as well as encouraging human empowerment toward a greater nationhood, is long overdue.

     Presently, most of our viable cultures are conspicuously relegated to the background. We need to revisit these cultural endowments situated in every nook and cranny across the federation with a view to harnessing those that are of socio-economic value as well as abolishing the socially unacceptable ones. The infrastructural and transportation sectors must equally be addressed toward ensuring an effective to and fro movement of the tourists.

     In the same spirit, there’s a compelling need for Nigeria to harness as well as nurture a particular cultural event that would bring the entire ethnic groups together regardless of their respective languages. Such socio-cultural heritage is expected to be celebrated annually or quarterly like a carnival whereby every Nigerian, both home and in the diaspora, would be equally expected to participate or observe. Aside tourism, the proposed measure, if implemented, would help to encourage unalloyed unity and an egalitarian system among Nigerians.

     Take a tour to most of our zoos and museums across the country; you would barely see an animal or a cultural display, as the case may be. The aforementioned creatures or art works can be acquired in abundance in the country, but owing to apathy or lack of national interest, our teeming hunters and sculptors have gone to sleep. We ought to note that with education, any society can actualize any anticipated goal or development, thus the Culture ministries at all levels in collaboration with their Education counterparts need to inculcate the teaching of these cultures into our various schools’ learning curriculum, up to the tertiary level.

     Acknowledging that several religious institutions aren’t presently in support of most cultural heritages or festivals in their respective jurisdictions, it’s imperative to partner with the various churches and mosques across the country since it’s obvious that everyone is affiliated to a particular religious body. They should be meant to understand that these socio-cultural endowments cum practices aren’t diabolic or against the preaching of the Holy books as they presume.

     The entertainment sector cannot be totally encouraged or uplifted without tackling the monster called plagiarism that’s currently ravaging the industry, thus the government must combat such menace with the last drop of its blood if it’s truly ready to boost the tourism industry.  It’s imperative to established formidable and stiff policies that would make these issues work as planned.

     Though the recently held National Summit on Tourism coupled with the Culture and Tourism debate organized by the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly was a way forward, it’s high time we swung into action without further ado. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

    

   

  

Overhauling Govt Agencies Towards a Greater Nationhood

OVERHAULING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TOWARDS A GREATER NATIONHOOD

     The last time I thoroughly checked, numerous federal cum state government’s agencies and commissions were earnestly yearning for overhaul toward ensuring that the respective prime essence of establishing them are duly actualized. Suchlike lapses, if not adequately addressed, are liable to bedevil the anticipated manifestation of the ongoing change mantra informed by the President Buhari – led administration.

     A government agency or commission is a permanent or temporary arm, which is often peculiar to a democratic setting, that’s responsible for the administration and oversight of specific functions. In any country across the globe, there are quite a number of government agencies set up for different unique purposes. A given government agency is usually distinct both from a department or ministry, and other kinds of public structures established by the government. The functions of a government agency are mainly executive in character since different forms of agencies or commissions are most commonly constituted for an advisory role.

     It’s noteworthy that, a government agency may be set up by either a federal government or state government within a federal system. The term is not commonly used for a body or an organization established by the powers of a local government otherwise known as the ‘third-tier government’. Agencies can be set up via legislation or by executive immunity. Moreover, the autonomy, independence and accountability of government agencies also vary based on the ground or principle on which they were constituted.

     Similarly, a regulatory agency is a governmental body whose establishment is solely approved by a legislature to implement and thereafter enforce specific laws. a regulatory agency or commission has quasi-legislative, executive and judicial functions, in the sense that while exercising its obligatory functions, it can in some occasions act like a legislature, an executive arm, or a judicial body, as the case may be.

     For instance, a regulatory agency can set up a special court via the government’s approval; in such case, it can exercise the statutory functions of the judiciary with the aid of the judicial custodians employed by the establishment. This is why a regulatory agency is expected to, in all circumstances, be made up of individuals that have no trace of any criminal record or questionable background.

     If you own or run a business venture, you probably know it is subject to a cornucopia of laws. Undoubtedly, your business is subject to laws that govern social and economic matters including income taxation, payroll taxation, occupational health, as well as environmental, safety, real estate, employment, and criminal laws, coupled with other laws that are specifically related to your particular industry.

     With the help of regulatory agencies, the government could handle or oversee the aforementioned civic responsibility. Regulatory agencies exercise two basic roles namely, implementation of laws and enforcement of laws. Regulations are the means by which a regulatory agency implements laws enacted by the legislature of the country or province in question, as the case may be. Thus, regulations can be described as formal rules based upon the laws of the affected country/state that govern specific social and economic activities.

     Regarding implementation of laws, regulatory agencies use a specific procedure to create and implement regulations. The federal process, for instance, abides by a procedure comprising advance notice, proposed regulation, public comments, review of comments, as well as final regulation. An agency that is about to commence drafting new regulations would publish advance notice of its proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register.

     The proposed regulations are published and the public would be therein invited to comment. Thereafter, the agency is expected to review the public comments and may or may not make any changes in this regard. Consequently, the completed regulation is published in the Federal Register and will eventually be added to the Code of Federal Regulation which is essential a list of all federal
regulations broken up into titles and chapters. Finally, the regulation is implemented or made effective, and enforcement commences immediately.

         Regulatory enforcement, which is often abused in a country like ours, is another rudimentary role exercised by regulatory agencies. Agencies have a responsibility to monitor businesses or individuals to ensure they are complying with regulations. Though agencies vary on how they perform their respective enforcement responsibilities, generally they abide by investigation, decision, and appeal. If an agency has reason to believe that a certain business or an individual has violated its regulations, the agency is meant to commence an investigation without much ado.

     The investigation may include interviewing relevant witnesses and reviewing documents. Some investigation may include scientific testing. In Nigeria, some regulatory agencies are usually partisan while conducting their investigations, thus such anomaly requires an urgent cross-examination by the apt authority.

     Furthermore, after the investigation, the agency would make a decision, demand any corrective action if necessary as well as impose any appropriate penalty on the offender as authorized by the law. A firm or an individual possesses a right to appeal any decision made by an agency. Most times, an agency’s decision is appealed through the agency that rendered the decision which is known as an administrative appeal. Sometimes, such appeal can be handled by the effort of a special court.

     It was the late great philosopher, Socrates that said “An unexamined life isn’t worth living”. Taking a painstaking study of the federal and state governments’ agencies in Nigeria, particularly the former, it’s needless to reiterate that most of these agencies or commissions, especially those established to exercise regulatory functions, are seriously crying for a compelling review or reexamination towards achieving a more effective and efficient productivity.

     To this end, it’s high time we reviewed most of the laws biding these agencies so we could make amends if need be. Aside the conventional agencies, the regulatory ones such as, but not limited to, the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) were set up to assist the government in the enforcement of severe laws that otherwise could not be properly enforced.

     However, it’s appalling and pathetic to note that most of these agencies, rather than doing the needful, end up doing otherwise at the long run owing to corruption. We could boast of an agency like the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC); still, plagiarism prevails in the country and is currently on the rampage.

     It’s not anymore news that most of these agencies have been characterized by several uncalled factors including partisanship, favouritism, mediocrity, and what have you. These constituted bodies are meant to be independent in the discharge of their lawful duties, but on the contrary, in most cases you would observe that they dance to the tune of most influential Nigerians or corporate organizations thereby abusing the laws or principles on which they were founded.

     Inter alia, some similar federal agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related crimes Commission (ICPC) alongside the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) are meant to be merged headlong, whilst few others that are currently incapacitated or no longer in vogue ought to be scrapped or better still embedded in other related agencies, towards enabling space for creation of new ones that the country is presently in need of. Currently, Nigeria is arguably yearning for establishment of bodies to include commission as well as tribunal for electoral violence that would tremendously assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in fighting crimes occasioned by political unrest.   

     In the same vein, agencies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ought to be strengthened. The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme currently taking place in the scheme should be made compulsory by the management; especially at this point the country is deeply concerned about uplifting entrepreneurship drive among our young ones or the citizenry at large. It’s worthy to note that most of the corps members dodge the said programme in the process, thus the management of the agency need to employ a device toward ensuring that every corps member participate actively in the programme.

     Above all, there’s need for the leaders of all the existing federal agencies in Nigeria to regularly read the riot act to their entire staff or personnel so that they would be conscious of them at all costs; the state owned ones should also follow suit. More so, in their oversight functions, the legislatures of both the federal and state governments, as the case may be, are expected to from time to time summon the leadership of any agency to their chambers whenever skepticism arises or if they sensed any foul play. Let’s overhaul them now for greater nationhood. Think about it!

          

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

The IMSU Strike and Okorocha's Perspective

 

THE IMSU STRIKE AND OKOROCHA’S PERSPECTIVE

    The last time I checked, the overall staff of the famous Imo State University (IMSU) were still on an industrial action owing to the arrear of salaries owed them. In addition, they are also agitating for immediate reversal of the ongoing free education programme in the university since the programme’s financier - the state government, can no longer boast of a robust economy contrary to the state of its financial muscle when the laudable initiative was introduced.

    It would be recalled that the aforesaid workers embarked on the strike few weeks ago and since then all efforts made by the Imo State government towards calling off the unbearable action proved abortive, thereby making the institution wear a pathetic physiognomy at the moment. You can imagine how a university would look when the unit chapter of the three major unions that constitute the community comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) are all on strike.

     However, the emergence of this piece was occasioned by the news reportage I came across in the Vanguard Newspaper penultimate week, on Wednesday 24^th May 2016 precisely, credited to the Imo State governor in the person of Chief Rochas Okorocha. The intriguing story had it that the governor categorically and unequivocally disclosed that he was considering concessioning IMSU to any interested private investor after recruiting new staff that would replace the striking ones, on the grounds that the ongoing industrial action of the IMSU workers was informed by their personal hatred for him (the governor).

     According to the Vanguard, the governor made the statement during his media briefing with the entire Imo State based practising journalists held in Owerri the state capital. I equally reportedly learnt that the governor seemed devastated and unfriendly for such ‘unnecessary’ attitude being displayed by the workers, stating that they closed down the university just for one-month salary owed them while their counterparts in most states across the country were still owed salaries ranging from four to six months.

     The governor went further to say that the IMSU staff were paid more than most of their counterparts in other states, thus deserved to be described as ingrates for having taken such ‘uncalled’ action in the name of strike. I regretted being inevitably absent in the state on the day of the meeting, which I would have love to attend, because I deeply detest to digest some certain critical and sensitive stories on the pages of newspapers.

     Well, I’m of the notion that the governor made that statement in error or maybe he only intended to frighten the workers so they could hasten up towards returning to their various duty posts. If not, I wouldn’t in any way believe that the amiable governor would nurture suchlike thought in his noble mindset let alone making it public. And I don’t think anyone who has been keenly following the governor would ever agree that such statement was made by his Excellency.

     Without mincing words, he’s a man I owe enormous respect owing to his genuine passion for education as well as compassion for the less-privileged, thus I’m aware what he could mean at any given time regarding issues relating to education. But if truly he has such intention or plan, then the governor really needs to embrace a rethink before the gods of our land become angry with him.

     Even if workers are owed for only half a month or were in any way maltreated, they deserve the right to strike. Industrial action is a way the workers in any setting are expected to showcase their grievances in a practical term. Strike might be displayed in various ways as it pleases the workers or based on the nature of the matter on ground; it could be sit-down strike, warning strike or indefinite strike.

     I’m of the view that workers cannot just go on strike, because they aren’t animals; there must be a tangible reason for an industrial action. Throughout the governor’s first tenure, no Imo worker embarked on an industrial action, if not the one that was displayed towards the 2015 elections’ era by the same IMSU staff; no doubt, it’s a historic record we shall all live to remember.

     If there’s no fund to settle the arrear of salaries owed them, you dialogue. They shouldn’t be mandated to go against their wish. Workers in some sectors or parastatals might be patient enough to wait while few others in other sector may lack the required patience; that’s individual temperaments or differences. Moreover, the striking staff are as well lamenting that the ongoing free education is just like robbing Peter to pay Paul, hence ought to be suspended for the interest of all concerned, especially the university. We must tell ourselves the gospel truth; the programme in question is negatively affecting both the entire university community and the state government, thus should be reviewed. Rather than making it totally free, let it be subsidized.

     An Igbo adage says ‘Eji la ihere ata oji nshi,’ meaning literally don’t consume a poisoned Kola due to shyness. Of what benefit would it be if having enjoyed a free education, after graduation the beneficiaries become mere cucumbers when they are expected to pose as proud graduates? The university is a very delicate arena that’s supposed to serve as a research centre for any society where it’s situated, but in Nigeria the reverse seems to be the case because our universities among other citadels of higher learning are poorly funded. We must acknowledge that no country or state can grow beyond its educational status; suffice it to say that the educational standard of any society determines the level of that society.

     Hence, I enjoin Gov Okorocha not to worsen the good works he has been doing since he assumed duty as the governor of Imo State. A test of faith determines how tolerant a leader is, so every leader mustn’t expect the odyssey to be smooth as long as it lasts. We all have our flaws but we must at all times and at all cost try not to let them becloud our sense of logic.

     The striking workers on their part should please avoid going astray; don’t allow any one or group incite you against the state government, thus you must remain objective. An industrial action of this kind ought to have been a warning action rather than indefinite. Respect, undoubtedly, is reciprocal. Considering the stance of education in any society, you shouldn’t make your retaliation as regards any maltreatment linger so much or become an indelible circumstance. All in all, we must take into cognizance that the future of our dear children or wards are at stake. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

(TheMediaAmbassador)

-Public Affairs analyst & Civil Rights activist-

Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research

& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador