Diversity and Inclusion in the Nigerian Work Environment: Opportunities and Challenges

Chinegbonkpa Hope NWAKANMA

doi:10.25273/she.v5i1.19303

Authors

Chinegbonkpa Hope NWAKANMA Centre for Education Rights and Transformation (CERT), University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25273/she.v5i1.19303

Abstract

The Nigerian work environment reflects the nation's kaleidoscope of cultures, ethnicities, languages, and religions. However, the importance of leveraging this robust diversity and achieving an inclusive workplace is rarely researched. Using the thematic literature review method, this paper explores the complex diversity and inclusion landscape in the Nigerian work environment, focusing on the opportunities it offers for growth, the challenges to overcome to harness these opportunities and the policies for addressing the issues of diversity and inclusion. Findings revealed that diversity and inclusion attract top talent, enhance innovation, corporate performance, and decision-making, and reduce biases, stereotypes, and employee attrition. It also revealed complex challenges, including change resistance, hidden biases, and communication barriers. Organisations can navigate these challenges by employing diversity training, inclusive leadership, equal opportunity, and general language policies. A contradiction was also revealed between the countryâ€™s ability to utilise its diverse potential and what is being achieved resulting from a low level of equity and inclusion in the Nigerian workplace and inadequate institutional and governmental structure to address the issues of inequality and discrimination. It is, therefore, imperative to formulate policies with broader coverage, expand existing ones and strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance from both organisations and individuals. Keywords: Diversity, inclusive workplace, inequality, discrimination, Nigerian Work environment

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abara C. J. (2012). Inequality and

discrimination in Nigeria. Tradition

and religion as negative factors

affecting gender. Paper presented at

the Federation of International Human

Rights Museums, 8â€“10 October 2012,

Liverpool, UK.

Adeleye, I., Fawehinmi, A., Adisa, T., Utam,

K., & Ikechukwu-Ifudu, V. (2019).

Managing diversity in Nigeria:

Competing logics of workplace

diversity. In Diversity within diversity

management: Country-based

perspectives (pp. 21-40). Emerald

Publishing Limited.

Adeleye, I., Atewologun, D. & Matanmi, O.

(2014). Equality, Diversity and

Inclusion in Nigeria: Historical Context

and Emerging Issues. In A. Klarsfeld

(Ed.), International Handbook On

Diversity Management At Work (2nd

Edition), (pp 195-216) Cheltenham,

UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Adeleye, I., Aja-Nwachukwu, F. & Fawehinmi, Y.

(2012). Managing diversity in Nigeria:

â€œThe Chevron wayâ€. CIPMN Human

Resource Management Journal, 4(1), 1

â€“ 13.

Adesua Lincoln, A., & Adedoyin, O. (2012).

Corporate governance and gender

diversity in Nigerian

boardrooms. World Academy of

Science, Engineering and

Technology, 71, 1853-1859

Ajai, O, (2019). Discrimination Against

Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition)

Act 2018: Overview and Impact.

Newsletter, March 2019. Retrieved

from:

https://www.olaniwunajayi.net/blog

/wpcontent/uploads/2019/03/Discrimin

ation-Against-Persons-WithDisabilities-Prohibition-Act-2018-

Overview-And-Impact-1-1.pdf.

Alabi, A., Sulaiman Jamiu, M., & Lawal, A.

A. (2023). Identity Politics and its

Implication on the Nigerian Electoral

Process. African Journal of Politics and

Administrative Studies, 16(1), 201-

Amaliyah, A. (2015). The Importance of

Workplace Diversity Management.

International Journal of Sciences: Basic

and Applied Research, 17(2): 175â€“182.

Anietie E. (2019). Nigeria passes disability

rights law; offers hope of inclusion,

improved access. Human Rights Watch

January 25, 2019. Retrieved from

https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/01

/25/nigeria-passes-disability-rightslaw

Appiah, O., Knobloch-Westerwick, S., Alter,

S., (2013). Ingroup Favoritism and

Outgroup Derogation: Effects of News

Valence, Character Race, and Recipient

Race on Selective News

Reading, Journal of Communication,

(3), 517â€“

https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.1

Avery, D.R., Mckay, P.F., Wilson, D.C., &

Volpone, S. (2008). Attenuating the

effect of seniority on intent to remain:

The role of perceived inclusiveness.

Paper presented at the meeting of the

Academy of Management, Anaheim,

CA.

Biwang, M. S. (2023). Bangsamoro identity:

its role in the Mindanao conflict and

the (current) peace process: the

impact of religion and ethnicity as

collective and social identity (Master's

thesis). MF Norwegian School of

Theology, Religion and Society.

Bergami, M. and Bagozzi, R.P. (2000). Selfcategorization, affective commitment

and group self-esteem as distinct

aspects of social identity in the

organization. British Journal of Social

Psychology, 39: 555-

https://doi.org/10.1348/01446

Bourke, J. & Dillon, B. (2018). The diversity

and inclusion revolution: Eight

powerful truths. Deloitte Review Isssue

Retrieved

from:https://www2.deloitte.com/us/

en/insights/deloitte-review/issue22/diversity-and-inclusion-at-workeight-powerful-truths.html.

Cannon, C. (2023). Muslim women in the

workplace and the Equality Act 2010:

Opportunities for an intersectional

analysis. International Journal of

Discrimination and the Law, 23 (3)

-294.

Cletus, H., Mahmood, N., Umar, A. &

Ibrahim, A., (2018). Prospects and

Challenges of Workplace Diversity in

Modern Day Organizations: A Critical

Review. HOLISTICA â€“ Journal of

Business and Public Administration,

(2) 35-

https://doi.org/10.2478/hjbpa2018-0011

Cloverpop (2017) White Paper: Hacking

Diversity with Inclusive DecisionMaking. Retrieved from:

https://www.cloverpop.com/hubfs/

Whitepapers/Cloverpop_Hacking_Div

ersity_Inclusive_Decision_Making_Whi

te_Paper.pdf

Dale-Olsen, H., & Finseraas, H. (2020).

Linguistic diversity and workplace

productivity. Labour Economics, 64,

, 1-16.

Deloitte, (2011). Only skin deep? Reexamining the business case for

diversity. Retrieved from

https://www.ced.org/pdf/Deloitte_-

_Only_Skin_Deep.pdf.

Deloitte, (2012). Waiter, is that inclusion in

my soup? A new recipe to improve

organisational performance. Retrieved

from:

https://www.readkong.com/page/wa

iter-is-that-inclusion-in-my-soup-anew-recipe-to-6679296

Deloitte, (2022). The Deloitte Global 2022

Gen Z and Millennial Survey. Retrieved

from:

https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/

issues/work/genzmillennialsurvey2022.html.

Dixon-Fyle, S., Dolan, K., Hunt, V., &

Prince, S. (2020). Diversity wins: how

inclusion matters. McKinsey &

Company. Retrieved from:

https://www.mckinsey.com/featuredinsights/diversity-andinclusion/diversity-wins-howinclusion-matters.

Ekejiuba, U. C.,Muritala, T. A., Abubakar, H.

L., & Sharma,A. (2023). Impact of

Workplace

Diversity Management on Employee

Commitment in the Nigerian Public

Sector. Journal of

Human Resource and Sustainability

Studies, 11(3) 450-

https://doi.org/10.4236/jhrss.20

113026.

Larson, E., (2018).When It Comes To

Business Decisions, Diversity Is Not

Propaganda. Forbes. Retrieved from:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikla

rson/2018/10/24/when-it-comes-todecisions-diversity-is-notpropaganda/?sh=34caf4e41d7f

Fajana, S., Owoyemi, O., Elegbede T. and

Gbajumo-Sheriff, M. (2011). Human

Resource Management Practice in

Nigeria. Journal of Management and

Strategy, 2(2): 57-62.

Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity,

(2013). National workplace policy on

HIV and AIDS. Retrieved from:

http://www.labour.gov.ng/Doc/NATI

ONAL_WORKPLACE_

POLICY_ON_HIV_AND_AIDS.pdf

Gardenswartz, L., & Rowe, A. (2009). The

effective management of cultural

diversity. Contemporary leadership and

intercultural competence: Exploring

the cross-cultural

dynamics within organizations, 35-43.

George, O., Yusuff, K. M. and Cornelius, N.

(2017) The good, the bad and the ugly

in the melting pot: the challenges of

Nigerianising diversity management.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An

International Journal, 36 (3), 238â€“254.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI10-2015-0088

Glassdoor (2021) What Job Seekers Really

Think About Your Diversity and

Inclusion Stats. Retrieved from:

https://www.glassdoor.com/employe

rs/blog/diversity/

GNP+, ILO, The PLHIV Stigma Index. 2012.

Evidence Brief: Stigma and

Discrimination at Work. Findings from

the PLHIV Stigma Index. Amsterdam,

GNP+. Retrieved from:

https://www.gnpplus.net/evidence-brief-on-stigma-and-discrimination-at-work-findings-from-the-plhiv-stigma-index/

Hofstede Insights (2022). An assessment

of the state of diversity, equity, and

inclusion amongst the leading

companies in Nigeria, Nigeria DEI

Report. Retrieved from

https://hi.hofstede-insights.com/deireport-2021-nigeria

Green, K.A., M. Lo pez, A. Wysocki, and K.

Kepner. (2002). Diversity in the

workplace: Benefits, challenges, and

the required managerial tools.

University of Florida, 1-4

Gross-GoÅ‚acka, E., Kupczyk, T., &

Wiktorowicz, J. (2022). Towards a

Better Workplace Environmentâ€”

Empirical Measurement to Manage

Diversity in the

Workplace. International Journal of

Environmental Research and Public

Health, 19(23), 1-13.

Hewlett, S. A., Rashid, R., & Sherbin, L.

(2018). Diversityâ€™s positive impact on

innovation and outcomes. In INSEAD

(2018): The Global Talent

Competitiveness Index 2018,

Fontainebleau, France eds Bruno

Lanvin Paul Evans (Vol. 30, p. 45-51).

Hunt, V., Prince, S., Dixon-Fyle, S., & Yee,

L. (2018). Delivering through

diversity. McKinsey & Company, 231, 1-

Ikeije, U., & Lekan-Akomolafe, C. (2015).

Employees diversity and inclusion: a

paradigm shift in organizational

management. European Journal of

Business and Management, 7(14), 34-

Iroanusi Queen Esther (2022). Again, Gender

Equality bill suffers setback at Senate.

Premium Times, Dec 15, 2023. Retrieved

from:

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/new

s/headlines/500980-again-genderequality-bill-suffers-setback-atsenate.html

Inyokwe, O. S., (2021). A Social Analysis of

Identity Discrimination, Identity

Conflict and Nation Building in Nigeria.

Available at

SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=379

or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ss

rn.3791687

Inegbedion, H., Sunday, E., Asaleye, A.,

Lawal, A., & Adebanji, A. (2020).

Managing Diversity for Organizational

Efficiency. SAGE Open, 10(1).

https://doi.org/10.1177/215824401

John, L. (2023). Re-examining peacemaking

and conflict management: the role of

youth in peace building and process in

south-east Nigeria. Aquino Journal of

Philosophy, 3(1), 217-228

McKinsey & Company, (2007). Women

matter, Gender diversity, a corporate

performance driver. Retrieved from:

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media

/mckinsey/dotcom/client_service/or

ganization/pdfs/women_matter_oct2

_english.ashx

Moore, K. J., Xiong, S., Bhattacharya, M.,

Bustamante, G., & Calvert, C. (2020).

Beyond diversity: focusing on and

enhancing inclusion in the Society for

Epidemiologic Research. American

journal of epidemiology, 189(10),

-1046.

Ngalo, M. M., Ogohi, C., & Ibrahim, U. A.

(2023). Workplace Diversity and

Employee Performance: An Empirical

Analysis of Nigeriaâ€™s Banking

Sector. Journal of Human Resource and

Sustainability Studies, 11(1), 211-233.

Nguyen, L. A., Evan, R., Chaudhuri, S.,

Hagen, M., & Williams, D. (2023).

Inclusion in the workplace: an

integrative literature review. European

Journal of Training and Development 1-

DOI: 10.1108/EJTD-10-2022-0104

Nwakanma, C.H.A., & Onyeonoru, I. P., (2021),

Human Resource Outsourcing and

Skill Variety of Core and Outsourced

Staff: Evidence from Nigerian Banking

Industry. The Nigerian Journal of

Sociology and Anthropology, 19(1), 41-

Oderinde, M. A. P., & Olanipekun, L. O. P.

(2023). Building an inclusive work

environment and an adaptable

workforce among selected academic

staff of private universities in Lagos

State, Nigeria. WAUU Journal of

International Affairs and

Contemporary Studies, 3 (1), 1-15.

Okongwu, O. C. (2021). Are laws the

appropriate solution: The need to

adopt non-policy measures in aid of

the implementation of sex

discrimination laws in

Nigeria. International Journal of

Discrimination and the Law, 21(1), 26-

Olayinka & Nwafor (2021) Enhancing effective

management of labour migration in a

COVID-19 environment, Guardian

Newspaper. Retrieved from

https://guardian.ng/appointments/e

nhancing-effective-management-oflabour-migration-in-a-covid-19-

environment/

Olele, A. C., Achugo, E., (2023). Diversity,

Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Exploring

the Effectiveness of Human Resource

Strategies and Practices in Fostering

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the

Workplace and Understanding the

Benefits of a Diverse Workforce in

Nigeria. Track2training. Retrieved

from:

https://track2training.com/2023/09

/24/diversity-equity-and-inclusiondei-exploring-the-effectiveness-ofhuman-resource-strategies-andpractices-in-fostering-diversityequity-and-inclusion-in-theworkplace-and-understanding-thebene/ .

Onwuamaeze, D. (2023). Nigeria Corporate

organizations lag behind in diversity,

equity and inclusion. Thisday News

paper. Retrieved from

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.p

hp/2021/11/26/report-nigeriacorporate-organisations lag-behindin-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

Oshi, T., (2016). Nigeria: Gender Equity Bill

Falls in the Senate. Premium Times,

March 28, 2016. Retrieved from:

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/n

ews/top-news/200202-nigeriansenate-rejects-bill-seeking-genderequality-marriage.html

Osiki, A. (2022). The impact of socio-legal

inequality on women in the Nigerian

domestic work sector. Law, democracy

and development, 26, 48-83.

Osiki A., (2014) Towards achieving equality

in the nigerian workplace: with a focus

on women, persons living with

disabilities and ethnic minorities.

Masters In Law (LLM). Thesis.

University of Cape Town

Overseas Development Institute (2006)

â€œAffirmative Action: Nigeriaâ€. Retrieved

from: http://www.odi.org.uk/interregional_inequality.

Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, (2020).

The Discrimination Against Persons

With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act

Retrieved from:

https://placng.org/i/wpcontent/uploads/2020/07/TheDiscrimination-Against-Persons-withDisabilities-Prohibition-Act.pdf

Rock, D., & Grant, H. (2016). Why diverse

teams are smarter. Harvard Business

Review, 4(4), 2-5.

Smedley, T (2014), The evidence is

growing â€“ there really is a business

case for diversity. Financial Times, May

, 2014. Retrieved from

https://www.ft.com/content/4f4b3c8

e-d521-11e3-9187-00144feabdc0.

Society for Human Resource Management

(2009). Global diversity and inclusion:

Perceptions, practices and attitudes.

Alexandria, VA: SHRM.

Trepte S., & Loy, L. S, (2017). â€œSocial

Identity Theory and SelfCategorization Theory.â€ In The

International Encyclopedia of Media

Effects. Ro ssler P., Hoffner C. A., van

Zoonen L. (Eds) (pp 1â€“13). Hoboken,

NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Tajfel, H. (1978). Differentiation between

social groups: studies in the social

psychology of intergroup relations.

London, UK: Academic Press.

Ugwuzor, M. (2023). Social identities matter:

diversity and the quagmire of ethnoreligious identification in workplaces

in Nigeria. Social Identities, 2(1), 150-

Ugwuzor, M. (2023). Managing cultural

convergence of multifariousity in

firms. International Journal of

Management Studies and Social Science

Research, 5(3), 83-88. DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2

4611.

United Nations Global Compact (2012) â€šThe

Ten Principlesâ€›. Retrieved from:

http://www.unglobalcompact.org/Ab

outTheGC/TheTenPrinciples/index.ht

ml.

Woolley, A., & Malone, T. (2011). What

makes a team smarter? More

women. Harvard business

review, 89(6), 32-33.

Wu, F., Zhou, M., & Zhang, Z., (2022). Can

science fiction engagement predict

identification with all humanity?

Testing a moderated mediation model.

Front. Psychol, 13, 1-18.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.

Zhao, E. Y., Thatcher, S. M., & Jehn, K. A.

(2019). Instigating, engaging in, and

managing group conflict: A review of

the literature addressing the critical

role of the leader in group

conflict. Academy of Management

Annals, 13(1), 112-147.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Nigerian Work Environment: Opportunities and Challenges

Authors

DOI:

Abstract

Downloads

References

Downloads

Published

Issue

Section

License

Copyright Notice

Information