Former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has urged Nigerian leaders to ensure effective management of the country’s diversity so as to guarantee its continued unity.
He made the call during the commissioning of the Emeka and Bunmi Anyaoku Foundation Centre in his Obosi community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, yesterday.
The commissioning of the centre marked the 91st birthday celebration of the former Commonwealth scribe.
Addressing guests, Anyaoku said: “At 80 years, you are considered to have entered the departure lounge. Your relatives can only pray that your flight be delayed well enough, but I’m fortunate to have made 90 and today 91 years. At 91, I have been able to retain all my faculties. They say it is as sharp as a sword, but I’m not so sure.
“The commissioning of this centre is the fulfillment of a dream which my wife and I have had for a long time. We have always wanted to support education, and by opening this library and museum, we hope that it will help both the old and young to acquire a reading culture. The attribute of Nigerians that worries me is the absence of reading culture.”
According to him, the museum is a place where visitors can come and learn about the memorabilia that he and his wife had collected from across the Commonwealth of Nations of 54 countries located in the major continents of the world. It will also parade artefacts from Nigeria, a pluralistic country that only became one as recently as 1914, adding that before then, the place called Nigeria existed in different tribal groups that lived their own lives in different parts of the country.
“I believe that one of the major issues that this centre will be promoting the study of, is the management of diversity in a pluralistic country. Some countries have succeeded in managing their pluralistic nature. Switzerland for example is a country of four major ethnic groups, Canada with two major ethnic groups, India, with seven ethnic groups. These countries have succeeded because they have deliberately addressed the challenges of how to manage diversity in their country.
“But some pluralistic countries that were not able to manage their diversity have failed. Like Yugoslavia, which ended up breaking into eight states. Take Czechoslovakia, a country of two major ethnic groups, the Slovaks and the Czecs, but they could not manage their diversity, so they peacefully decided to part.
“I hope that this centre will be a hub of collaboration with universities, schools, institutes to promote studies in various areas, and it has enough materials to help leaders address the challenges posed by our diversity,” Anyaoku said.
Speaking about the reason for siting the centre in Obosi, and how it was funded, Anyaoku said: “If you
Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Solud, who was also at the event, praised Anyaoku for giving back to society, saying that he remains a man worthy of emulation.
Former Aviation minister, Mr Osita Chidoka, presented a birthday gift to Anyaoku on behalf of Obosi title chiefs. He said the Obosi people are proud of Anyaoku.
