- Speaker Tajudeen advocates revising school curricula to foster national unity and impart knowledge of Nigeria’s diverse cultures
- He emphasizes early education’s role in promoting understanding and tolerance, advocating for a cohesive society grounded in shared humanity
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s primary and secondary school curricula to align with the imperative of fostering national cohesion. On Friday, this call was made during his keynote address at the Nation Integration Conference organized by The Kukah Centre (TKC) in Abuja.
Represented by Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the House of Representatives’s Deputy Speaker, Tajudeen emphasised education’s pivotal role in nurturing national unity and managing diversity. He stressed the importance of revising educational frameworks to impart knowledge of Nigeria’s diverse cultures and religions to young Nigerians.
Tajudeen highlighted the significance of early education in promoting understanding and tolerance, asserting that such initiatives prepare children for navigating the complexities of a diverse society while instilling values of coexistence and respect. He also underscored the need to address socialization processes perpetuating divisive attitudes, advocating for a more cohesive and inclusive society grounded in shared humanity.
Expressing the House of Representatives’ commitment to promoting national unity through legislative action, Tajudeen affirmed that the 10th House’s legislative agenda prioritizes addressing challenges hindering unity and progress. He emphasized adherence to constitutional provisions on federal character and affirmative action to ensure equitable representation and resource allocation across regions and geopolitical zones.
In his welcome address, Bishop Mathew Kukah, the founder of TKC, highlighted the urgency of nation-building, emphasizing the importance of national cohesion for sustainable growth and development. He urged Nigerians to prioritize unity over discord, warning against the consequences of neglecting efforts to build a cohesive nation.
Similarly, Sen. Adam Oshiomhole emphasized the divisive impact of religion in Nigeria, cautioning against equating religious beliefs with material wealth. He underscored the need for a paradigm shift in societal attitudes, asserting that legislative reforms alone are insufficient without corresponding changes in belief systems and social norms.