2013 International Essay Contest for Young People Youth Category – Honorable Mention Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue: A Sin for Development (Original) Abdulkabeer Ishola (Age 25, Nigeria) Youth Tolerance for Peace Initiative While I was a kid, I had always thought culture was all about the way we dress, the food we eat and the dialect we speak. Not knowing that it transcends beyond those three lines. I was born in south- western Nigeria amidst the Yoruba clan, schooled in northern Nigeria with the Hausa-Fulani people and spent a part of my life on national service in far eastern Igbo land. Thus, I see myself as a true Nigerian: culturally integrated. One may think that my level of familiarity with the three major tribes in Nigeria will earn me a well placed status amidst our people, but reverse is the case. Our cultural identity as a nation today stands as a threat rather than being strength. I have been a victim of religious chauvinism, ethnic disparity and object of mockery like every other Nigerian youth. My storyline sounds different because I am an advocate of religious tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence. These are some aspects of my culture which I take pride in and have helped in shaping my life for a better future. The Nigerian state is that which every tribe rejoices with herself celebrating her superiority over the other, without seeing her fault lines. The persistent killing and maiming under the guise of ethno - religious politics have been so alarming in recent times. The most touching part of this remains the fact that youths form majority of those mobilized to perpetrate such holocaust. In order to harness my cultural skills in curbing this menace, I joined hands with Youth Tolerance for Peace Initiative -a vibrant youth organization led by Jonah Ayo Obajeun; an ambassador of the United Nations Alliance of Civilization. I strongly believe the best antidote to solving a problem is to treat the root cause. Hence, we identified that most Nigerian youths lack tolerance, dialogue and patience. We then designed a structured boot camp program tagged: ‘Tolerance Academy (TA)’ -to educate, facilitate and participate in the restructuring program. Our TA program was equipped with cultural diversity, conflict management, religious tolerance and intercultural dialogue to enhance interaction and understanding. We so much built the curriculum to accommodate a culturally sensitive environment, inviting participants from the majority and minority tribes as well as religions. By this means, the youths get to understand each other better, spending time together, eating from the same plate, wearing traditional robes and teaching themselves about their cultures. We split them into groups where they brainstorm, share ideas, discuss and bring forward worthy solutions to existing problems facing the nation. Today, we have success stories of participants who have gone back to their localities and institutions establishing Tolerance Clubs and spreading the gospel of peaceful coexistence. I see a green Nigeria ahead; the Nigeria of our dreams where we all truly live by our motto: “unity and faith; peace and progress” not by ethnicity or religiosity. This is imminent with the uprising of active volunteer groups taking charge in various aspects, championed by vivacious youths. My positive attitudes towards cultural awareness have paid me in several ways. I have had the opportunity to lead student organizations during my undergraduate days with meaningful projects and long lasting legacies. First as the President of Nigeria Association of Computer Science Students in my third year and later as the Amir (Leader) of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria in my final year. These illustrations earned me mentorship to many students and even after graduation, I am still being invited to present papers and talks within the university community. To wrap up, I recall with ecstasy my emergence as one of the winners of a national youth essay competition. In that piece, I pictured the establishment of my culturally sensitive family where I named my little son with three distinctive names from the major tribes in Nigeria. That naming ceremony served as a re-orientation and cultural awareness for many who attended and as such, most people prefer to call him by the traditional names other than that of my tribe. I strongly believe that cultural diversity will not only expose us to opportunities for a better future; it is a must have tool for personal development and inter-cultural relationship.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 07:59:58 +0000
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