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Strategies for Managing Diversity 1
Traditional Perspective
by Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Ibim Semenitari, Tunde Olokode, Tinubu

Diversity can take the form of gender, ethnic origin, religious affiliation, ideology or sexual orientation among other variations. All of these diversity issues are managed through different forms of public policies. What is less known in literature of conflict studies is the number of local approaches for dealing with issues of diversity. Several Nigerian communities have retained traditional practices.

Traditionally, migration patterns across the various communities in several Nigerian cities and towns, although welcomed and probably encouraged, are structured in ethno-national terms such that people of similar ethnicity tend to stay closer to a community leader who is recognized as the ethnic head by the host community. The leader of the specific migrant population is usually the mouthp

iece of the migrants in local courts. Whenever the migrants have any problems they pass them to the traditional ruler of the community through their elected leader who, in a place like Ibadan, could be the Sarkin Hausawa, Eze Ndigbo, or Oba Tapa among others. A migrant leader in Kano could be Sarkin Yarbawa, or Sarkin Igbo. He could be Oba Yoruba or Sarkin Hausawa in Enugu. Through this kind of "diaspora political leadership" style, migrants are also able to contribute their quota to the health of the host community. This may not be a conscious program of inclusion and provision of space for identity development of the migrant in the context of a new immigrant sensibility. However, until recently, the arrangement served that purpose.

Respect for these local institutions and the bond they foster can be a major tool in promoting a long-term spirit of tolerance. This is an example of inclusion without suggesting assimilation. In this process, everyone is satisfied. Problems that could result in ethnic or religious conflict between the migrants and their hosts are quickly contained.

A keen awareness of these developments by the media, a concern to report them truthfully and without bias, and sensitive coverage of the holistic structures of the society can help play a tremendous role in the promotion of true national identity. The Yoruba and Igbo are formally settled at Sabon garin in Kano and a few other northern Nigerian cities. In Ibadan, Hausa migrants are settled at Oja Oba, Isale Osi, Sabo, Ojo, Bodija, and Sasa. The Nupe are settled at Mokola and Ago Tapa quarters. In many parts of eastern Nigeria, Hausa migrants are settled at "Abakpa quarters." This arrangement of settling migrants in special quarters began in the pre-colonial period of Nigeria history. The colonial institution attempted to exploit this development but, with the passage of time, the settlement pattern has, in the final analysis, served as a good forum for meeting the special needs of the migrants in such a way that the cultural disparity between them and their hosts does not result in any major conflict.

In gender and inter-generational terms, however, diversity tends to be more problematic in Nigeria. A famed Yoruba adage summarizes the problem: "Leadership claim [older age] is hardly worthy than as a means of privilege." This adage speaks to how issues of gender and inter-generational conflicts are managed. Men, like elders, try to rule over women and youth in society. Within this patriarchal universe, the media has a challenging role. The media is aware that democracy cannot survive in an authoritarian context and Nigerian women and youth want to be free of the "oppressive rule" of the elders as well as patriarchs leading their society. Thus, it becomes the role of the media to spell out clearly how diversity can help build democracy.

1. This article is one of three in a series ("The Management of Diversity: Public Policy Perspective," "Strategies for Managing Diversity: Traditional Perspective," "Issue of Diversity: The Media Perspective") which were jointly authored by some of the Reporting Diversity Network members. Contributors are Adesuwa Onyenokwe of One-on-One NTA, Ibim Semenitari of Tell, Tinubu of Galaxy TV, and Tunde Olokode of OGBC. Dr. Albert Isaac of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, organized the various concepts into the three articles.