Diversity Management and Ethnic Conflict in Organizations in Nigeria: A Study of Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This work examined the issue of diversity management and ethnic conflict at Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. The purpose was to investigate if ethnic conflict exists in this university and how it is handled. The study adopted the Equity Theory. A sample size of 45 was drawn. The focus group, indebt interview and questionnaire were adopted in the selection of respondents. Four objectives and corresponding four research questions were raised in the study. Data that addressed the research questions were analyzed using descriptive method. The findings of the study include i. Presence of Ethnic Conflict, ii. It was also established that ethnic conflict reduces employee productivity and also affects workers moral. iii. it also leads to high labour turnover in the institution, iv. it leads to absenteeism and also affects workers’ psychology. Based on these findings the study made the following recommendations that i. Regular sensitization of Human Resource Management Personnel of public and private organizations on the need to ensure equal opportunities for all workers irrespective of their ethnic background. This will be better appreciated if the Human Resource Management team embraces the concept of diversity in work organizations and engaged managers related to this. ii. There should be an enactment of laws that will stipulate punishment or penalties for any organization or worker that discriminates via policies and practices or limit the rights of an individual because of ethnicity. iii. There should be a diversity department where issues of diversity will be handled. This department must and should be headed by diversity managers who have undergone training on diversity matters. iv. Any staff found of being guilty of discriminating against a colleague because of ethnic differences must be punished for that (Brown., Kozlowski and Hattrup, 1996).