Dr. Zainab Hammanga, The concept of “Pro Unitate” - Latin “For Unity” is one that draws from all states, sectors and status - we had children of the high and mighty and we had children of cleaners and drivers, we had the tardy and the tidy, we even had those who could barely construct a sentence of grammar when we began, yet by rubbing minds and learning from one another many were positioned to excel. Can the past idea of unity be brought to bear on the present realities in our nation?
DR. ZAINAB HAMMANGA:
Good evening ladies and gentle, the following are my opening thoughts on the theme of today’s colloquium – Past, Present and Future of Unity in Nigeria: Federal Government College Odogbolu as a case study. The Federal government College Odogbolu was established as one of the unity schools with the primary aim of integrating and grooming future leaders that unite the country. As pioneer in 1973, apart from the academic curriculum, our teachers, housemasters and housemistresses also served as our guardians. I learnt financial management from my Cross House Mistress as she supervised my N3 (Naira) pocket money per term expenditure. I had an exercise book dedicated to how I spent every kobo. I was always given the balance to take back home at the end of the term. All the staff took special interest in each and every one of us. Taught us good character of love, compassion, tolerance, justice, wisdom, goodness and in caring for one another, irrespective of our religion, tribe or social status. Where we erred, we were duly but lovingly punished for our sins. I am not too sure that the present crop of staff in unity schools have continued this beautiful tradition of being genuinely interested in the proper moulding of their students’ characters given the current circumstances they find themselves in.
In order to foster unity, we need to examined ourselves honestly as individuals and ask these questions:
1. Am I good?
2. Do I want for my neighbour what I want for myself?
3. Am I giving my very best to my client, customers or the public?
4. Do I take or give bribe for any services I render?
It does not matter, whether you work in the public or private sector, you need to answer these questions honestly. Collectively, in order to promote unity in diversity, we need to also take proactive steps:
1. Proportionate development: infrastructure development provides for wealth creation and jobs. We all know that joblessness creates frustration and envy with consequences.
2. We must practice real democracy – allowing the people to choose their leaders.
3. We must identify genuine problems, ascertain their good causes and address them appropriately.
4. We must recognise that all religions, cultures, languages and ethic groups are equally important.
It is very easy to be united with feelings of love, compassion, humanity and affection in order to share compassion and happiness equally among all. But first, we also need to become a people who believe in love, compassion, honesty and justice. Caring for our neighbours irrespective of their religion, tribe or social status.
We need to understand that God has never created any useless thing. Every one or every living thing is equally important. For our dear country to be united, we need that piece of every puzzle in the possession of every Nigeria to be collated and put together to recreate a great Nigeria that we are all proud of. Once and when each one of us decides to change for better character and become our brothers keepers, unity is automatic and development and economy to one of the best in world.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen
DR OMOLOLA OMOTESO:
In every corner of Nigeria, there is one crisis or the other - terrorism, political, religious, tribal, class, age or gender. We had crisis in Odogbolu too, I recollect vividly that during my time there we had the first Girl’s Riot where we locked out the Principal and itemised our demand. How can unity stem the tide of such crisis, which often stems from inequitable distribution of resources and social injustice?
MISS NWOKWO MARYANN:
Good evening everyone, I am Nwokwo Maryann, 2019 set. Parents are the major course of this problem. Why I said parents is because parents don’t want their children to face the challenges in school. They send them to school and pamper them, some parents even go as far as setting up platforms and threaten students, the senior students especially. Like my set before we left the school, it was hell for the prefects, we just even moved back. We can’t even perform our duties as prefects because we are all afraid of what the Principal or the school management might do to us. So I think the parents don’t want their children to face challenges and challenges is something we must face as human beings. We must face the struggles of life. Life is not perfect, but parents don’t want that. And tribalism, all these things, is what I don’t understand.
DR OMOLOLA OMOTESO:
Finally, the model upon which unity schools stood, can this be replicated in all schools? Kindly highlight the merits and demerits.
DR ZAINAB HAMMANGA:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I wish to answer the last question. I believe unity schools can be replicated. And I actually believe there are more merits to replicating unity schools; in fact I cannot think of any demerit as far as unity schools are concerned. Once we decide that we want good schools, we can for a start, decide to do a few model unity schools. Perhaps we can do four that will be exemplary and we will use all means to sure those schools meet all the standards that there is to meet. Then, when we attain that model that we dream about, then we can go about replicating it in the country. I think sometimes we take too many gigantic projects that we cannot finish. Rome was not built in a day, I believe if we want a model unity school, or few model unity schools, we can start with that and then get to the 36 states model unity schools which will be functional and will give us the kind of human beings that we expect to be the leaders of this country in the future. Thank you very much.
DR OMOLOLA OMOTESO:
We have come to the end of the Commemorative Colloquium. The issue of UNITY is a never-ending one; let us continue this on all our platforms. Most importantly, let us promote the values and virtues of PRO UNITATE.
I call on the President to present the awards to the awardees.
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