Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were two presentations made by the Subject Experts on Republic of China and South Africa.
The First presentation was made by Maj Gen JA Orokpo (Rtd) subject experts on China, his presentation discussed on China’s Ethnic Affairs Officials Urged to Promote Integration of Minority Groups. Senior Ethnic Affairs policy directors who were at a meeting on 23 Jan 24 to outline goals for this year. The objectives include addressing ‘hidden dangers’ and launching cultural initiatives that ‘reflect the commonality of the Chinese nation’. The South China Morning Post reported on 24 Jan 24 that China’s ethnic affairs officials have been asked to boost efforts to promote the integration of the country’s ethnic minority groups in the new year.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Maj Gen JA Orokpo (Rtd) noted that the Chinese Ethnic Affairs officials have been urged to promote integration of minorities taking note of the risks and hidden dangers. The objective is to launch cultural initiative that reflect the commonality of the Chinese nation. Nigeria is a country with diverse ethno-religious population that has been used by some citizens to negatively affect our national security. It is needful to work towards cultural and ethno-religious integration to address the challenges of national integration.
He recommended that Federal Government of Nigeria should encourage the separation of ethnicity and religion from politics and governance to mitigate ethno-religious polarisation and conflicts. Address socio-economic disparities in the minority ethnic groups to address the challenges of national integration and also NOA should promote awareness on a common national identity among citizens.
Relatedly, the second presentation by Col OR Akerele (Rtd) subject expert on South Africa, focuses on how Unemployed Doctors Forced to Survive on temporary posts amid job scarcity. On Saturday 25 Jan 24, the SA Medical Association reported that SA doctors are now surviving on temporary posts amid job scarcity. Additionally, they are also facing high unemployment, inadequate training, poor medical facilities, staffing imbalance, lack of medical supplies, ageing infrastructure and hash working condition for those employed.
In his analysis and Lessons for Nigeria, Col Akerele (Rtd) noted that this presentation looks at Unemployment among doctors and other medical personnel in South Africa in relation to Nigeria and It traces challenges of medical training in Nigeria, reasons and effects of mass exodus of doctors in Nigeria, lessons and implications for Nigeria’s’ national security. It highlights the need for government to address, identified challenges to halt exodus of doctors and other medical personnel to improve health delivery in Nigeria. Similarly, it is also necessary for government to evolve strategies to quickly and effectively implement appropriate health care policies in national interest.
He recommended that, the Ministry of Health should give annual targets to the Post Graduate Colleges of Nigeria, Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres on the number of doctors for Residency Training to review and implement agreements reached with medical associations on remuneration and working conditions of Doctors and other medical personnel to boost morale and to reduce migration and also increase funding and accessibility to such funds to enhance training, and improve infrastructure in Nigerian universities and medical colleges.
