promoting national unity by Eguriase S. M. Okaka

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PROMOTING NATIONAL UNITY
By Eguriase S. M. Okaka Meaning of National Unity National unity is the act of making people to believe, have faith and show love for one another in addition to working together inculcate the idea of national consciousness and integrity in the mind of the individuals. How Individuals and Groups Can Promote National Unity National unity is important to the stability and sustainability of the country. Aside efforts by government to promote national unity among the citizens of Nigeria; individual and groups also play a major role in the contributing immediately to the unity of the country. Below are some of the ways individuals and groups can promote unity in the country? • Tolerance • Harmony • Hospitality • Inter-marriage • Integration • Non-discrimination among Nigerians. Tolerance: It is the willingness of individuals and groups to accept and tolerate one another especially where there is divergence of opinions or where one exhibits a behavior which does not appeal to others. We should try to accept other people’s ways of life and dialog with them when there are disagreement and conflict rather than being confrontational or resorting to the use of force. For example, when people from the Southern part of the country tolerate the behavior and attitude of the Fulani herdsmen from the North, then they are indeed promoting national unity. Harmony: National unity is highly promoted when there is peaceful co-existence and agreement among the citizens of a country. In a country where there is harmony, there will be no fighting, hatred and disorderliness. Hence, harmony promoted unity, economic and social development. Hospitality: Hospitality means the friendly, warm and generous reception and entertainment accorded guest, visitors or strangers. We should learn to accept and be generous to visitors from any part of the country that are in our locality or community. For example, Edo people accommodating and being generous to the displaced people from the North as a result of Boko-Haram attacks had shown hospitality. Therefore, when individuals and groups accept visitors with friendly minds no matter the part of the country they are from and also show them generosity, they are demonstrating hospitality which ends up promoting national unity. Inter-Marriage: It means a marriage between a man and a woman from different ethnic groups in the country. For example, when a Bini man marries a Fulani woman or a Hausa man gets married to an Igbo woman; they are therefore promoting national unity. In fact, inter-marriages should be encouraged by government and all citizens of this country. Integration: This means closer interactions and links among various components. It refers to a situation where two or more components are linked together or fussed to become one. Relating it to the affairs of a country, it has to do with making for closer interactions and understanding among the various ethnic components in the country. As citizens of Nigeria who desire unity and cohesion among Nigerians, the issues of integration should be taken seriously. Hence one should be ready to work anywhere in Nigeria especially outside one’s state or place of domicile. Non-Discrimination among Nigerians: The Nigerian constitution states that all citizens are equal no matter their tribes or religion. It is our responsibility to see that no citizen is discriminated against in the area of jobs, award of contracts, appointments such as into the Nigerian army, police, etc., on the ground ethnicity like being either Yoruba, Hausa, Bini or Fulani. The non-discrimination among Nigerians, irrespective of the ethnic group he or she belongs will definitely help to promote our national unity. National Institution Established by Government to Promote National Unity The Federal Government of Nigeria has invested a lot of money, materials and time to ensure that there is unity among Nigerians. Considering the positive gains which will accrue from promoting unity among Nigerians in the country, the Federal Government therefore adapted some measures that will help promote our national unity. Some of these measures are as follows: (a) Establishment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC): The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was established on the 22nd of May 1973 by the General Yakubu Gowon military regime. The scheme is for Nigerian graduates from the polytechnics and universities. The graduates are posted to different states outside their state of origin to render a compulsory one year service to the nation. The purpose of the scheme is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of cultural or social background. Other objectives of the scheme, are: • To develop common ties among the Nigerian youths and promote national unity and integration. • To remove prejudices, eliminate ignorance and confirm at first hand the many similarities among Nigerians of all ethnic groups. • To enable Nigerian youths acquire the spirit of self-reliance by encouraging them to develop skills for self-employment.
• To develop a sense of corporation existence and common destiny of the people of Nigeria. • That the Nigerian youths are encouraged to eschew religious intolerance by accommodating religious differences. • To raise the moral tone of Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideas of national achievement, social and cultural improvement. • To contribute to the accelerated growth of the national economy, etc. (b) Establishment of Federal Unity School: Unity schools came into existence in Nigeria in 1966 with the establishment of three Federal Government colleges (FGCS) Nigeria has one or two unity schools by bringing children from different parts of the country together in Warri, Sokoto and Okposi in Anambra State. Each of the 36 States in Nigeria has one or two unity schools. The purpose of establishing the unity schools is to foster national unity by bringing children from different parts of the country together in a school to learn and in the process promoting oneness and national unity. (c) Establishment of Federal Character Commission: The Federal Character Commission is an executive body established by Act No 34 of 1996 to implement and enforce the federal character principles of fairness and equity in the distribution of position in public offices and social economic infrastructures among the various federating units of Nigeria. The commission ensures even distribution of amenities, appointment, public offices, infrastructures, etc., to every part of the country without marginalizing any section of the country there promoting national unity. (d) Establishment of National Sport Festival (NSF): The National Sport Festival started in 1973 and was held at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos. It is a biennial (every two years) event designed for mass participation in sports for people in the grassroots throughout the country for the purpose of identifying and developing the potentials budding athletes and footballers. The objectives of the national sports festivals are: • To promote peace and strengthen national unity. • Identify raw talents for further development. • For the promotion of socio-cultural integration thereby enhancing national unity. The Introduction of National Symbols The federal government’s introduction of the use of national symbols into the Nigeria society such as the national flag, coat of arm, national anthem, and the pledge, use of the national currency has helped in promoting loyalty, sense of belonging and unity among Nigerians. Establishment of Federal Urban Mass Transit: With the establishment of this transportation project, the federal government has been able to create roads to link all the different parts of the country and this has made transportation easier and cheaper. It has made it possible for people to travel from one part of the country to another thereby helping to integrate the people and promoting national unity. The Establishment of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA 1964): The establishment of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA), is another way of unifying the country because every citizen of the 36 states is represented in the enlistment and training of military personnel admitted in the academy. Factors that Promote National Unity Everybody in the country desire peace and unity in order for the country to move forward and achieves progress and development. Some factors that promote national unity include the following: • There must be peace in the country. • There must be good and listening government in power. • Security of lives and properties must be guaranteed. • There must be stable and strong economy. • Constant public enlightenment programs that will promote national unity. • The rule of law must be obeyed, applied and the constitution of the country must be respected by the people and the government. • There must be enforcement of discipline and reward for hard work. • Citizen’s must develop the spirit of patriotism to the country. • There must be religious tolerance. • Every ethnic group in Nigeria must agree to work together to promote unity and work collectively as against individual ethnic interest. Benefits/Importance of National Unity • It helps to promote peace and understanding among Nigerians. • It promotes social, economic and political development. • There will be protection of lives and properties. • It promotes the rule of law and fundamental human rights of our citizens. • It helps to eliminates religious and ethnic differences. • National unity helps to reduce conflicts among Nigerians who live in various communities, towns or geo-political zones outside their own states. • It helps boost the image of the country thereby attracting foreign investments into the country. • It helps boost the spirit of patriotism. Questions • What is National unity? • State five ways individuals/groups can promote national unity. • List four national institutions established by federal government to promote national unity. • State four objectives for establishing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). • Mention five factors that promote national unity. • State five importance of national unity. Eguria.blogspot.com

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education as a weapon by Eguriase S.M. Okaka

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Education as a weapon by Eguriase S.M. Okaka A weapon is an instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc. That is where I likened, education as a weapon of offense and defense. Those who fought for Nigeria's independence on October 1st 1960, did not fight with guns, bombs and their likes rather they fought with their education. Education is a weapon that no one can dispute. Your education is the key to open all your future doors. Then get it at Guria Lectures. For there is education in plenty @ Guria Lectures, Benin City. For enrollment,WhatsApp Uncle Guria on 08032587335. Classes available: 1. Six months course in Adult Education 2. Primary Lectures 3. Secondary Lectures 4. Speech sounds class Ask Patriots like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe,Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Anthony Enahoro and a host of others, they will tell you that t...
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