THE recently concluded conference on ‘The effect of incivility on Africa’s development,’organised by Etiquette Africa and managed by Etienying Akpanusong, has identified incivility as contributing to stress, anxiety and a decline in overall well-being, noting that disrespect and hostility in society foster an environment detrimental to both mental and physical health.
While noting several consequences of incivility on physical and mental health, the conference presented examples, such as the recent closure of a school due to bullying by children aged 11 to 14, as well as a young University of Lagos (UNILAG) student that committed suicide due to online attacks.
The conference, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the critical issue of incivility in Africa, while acknowledging the negative impact on individuals, businesses and the continent’s overall prosperity, examined the underlying roots of this phenomenon and pointed the path to a more civil and prosperous future.
Panellists and speakers from various sectors, including education, parenting and mentorship, leadership and business, lamented declining civility across Africa.
They observed a noticeable shift in values pervasiveness of materialism, influence of foreign cultures and technology, particularly social media, as undermining traditional values, ethics and etiquette, with the very fabric that once held communities together fraying.
The panellists said people tend to lose themselves when conversing on the Internet, believing they have the freedom to express themselves without establishing boundaries, while
poor governance and ineffective leadership, absence of strong, ethical leadership and a lack of accountability within leadership structures foster a culture of incivility, with leaders who do not embody respect and ethical conduct setting a poor example and perpetuating a cycle of disrespect.
The experts recognised the breakdown of the family unit as a significant factor, as many saw decline of civility as a result of parents’ diminishing role in instilling values and social graces in their children.
Without a strong foundation of values instilled within the family unit, which represents the smallest unit of society, the broader societal fabric suffers, with bad parenting largely to blame for decadence in civility being witnessed today.
Incivility, they said, hinders economic growth and discourages foreign investment, as business thrives only in environments where trust, respect and professionalism prevail. A lack of these qualities, therefor, creates an atmosphere that discourages investment and entrepreneurial activity.
It tarnishes the image of Africa on the global stage, with negativity and hostility directed at fellow citizens and the outside world create a perception of instability and insecurity, hindering progress and cooperation, as exemplified in Nigeria’s general election last year, where negative comments affected the reputation of the electioneering process, the then president-elect and the judiciary.
Also, ineffective leadership due to incivility impedes progress, as leaders who lack civility set a poor example and hinder the development of a culture of respect and cooperation within institutions.
In recognition of the urgency in addressing this critical issue, the conference participants recommended a multi-pronged approach, including revitalisation of education by integrating values-based education and social etiquette into the formal curriculum, thereby making education to go beyond simply imparting knowledge to encompass character development, fostering respect, empathy, and responsible behaviour.
They stressed the need to revisit curricula to emphasise ethical values, social responsibility and critical thinking skills; equip teachers with the training and resources necessary to effectively address social and emotional learning within the classroom; foster a school environment that promotes respectful interactions and positive social norms; strengthen parenting, with parents having an irreplaceable role in shaping children’s values and behaviour, as well as prioritise responsible social media management, intentional mentoring and open communication within families, who are essential to cultivating a generation of respectful individuals.
This entails setting clear expectations and boundaries regarding technology use, including responsible online behaviour; engaging in open and honest conversations with children about values, ethics and the importance of civility; promoting effective leadership: Leaders must understand the importance of civility and serve as role models of ethical conduct.
Achieving this requires selecting leaders who embody strong moral character and demonstrate respect for others implementing leadership development programmes that emphasise ethical decision-making, conflict resolution skills and effective communication; fostering a culture of accountability within institutions, where incivility is not tolerated and appropriate consequences are enforced and prioritising national dialogue, as well as open communication and inter-generational discussions essential to address societal issues and foster a culture of respect.
Such discussions include creating platforms for open dialogue among citizens, government officials and community leaders; encouraging inter-generational conversations that bridge the gap between different age groups and perspectives; utilising media and communication channels to promote positive social norms and responsible behaviour and implementing policy changes.
Government, it was observed, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other related agencies should establish a national policy framework promoting civility and addressing the root causes of its decline, with emphasis on investing in social programmes that strengthen families and communities,promoting ethical values and social responsibility through public awareness campaigns; addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality, which often contribute to social unrest and incivility and strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems to ensure effective enforcement of laws and regulations that promote civility and discourage anti-social behaviour.
The conference noted that addressing incivility in Africa requires a collective effort from individuals, families, institutions and governments, with each stakeholder playing a crucial role.
Individuals should cultivate personal responsibility, practise empathy and actively promote respectful behaviour within their communities, including holding themselves accountable for their actions and words, treating others with respect, regardless of their background or social standing; engaging in constructive dialogue and seeking peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
Families, on their part, should prioritise values-based parenting, fostering open communication and setting positive examples for children by instilling strong moral values in children from a young age; leading by example and demonstrating respectful behaviour within the family unit and encouraging children to become responsible and engaged members of their communities.
Institutions are expected to integrate social etiquette and ethical conduct into educational curricula, promote leadership development programmes and create environments that value respect and professionalism by reviewing and revising institutional policies to emphasise ethical conduct and respectful behaviour; providing training and support for educators and administrators in addressing social and emotional learning within their institutions and establishing a culture of accountability that forbids incivility and enforces appropriate consequences.
Above all, governments should establish and enforce policies that promote civility, address the root causes of its decline and invest in initiatives that cultivate strong moral values within society by implementing social programmes that address poverty, inequality and other factors contributing to social unrest, strengthening law enforcement and judicial systems to ensure effective enforcement of laws and regulations that promote civility and investing in public awareness campaigns that promote ethical values, social responsibility and positive social norms.
In conclusion, the panellists noted that the journey towards a more civil Africa would not be easy, yet it is a necessary one, adding that by working together and prioritising the values of respect, empathy and ethical conduct, we can build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.
In summary, the transformation we desire demands the commitment to invest in education, equip the next generation with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to become responsible and respectful citizens and strengthen families.
The maiden edition of the Etiquette Africa Conference and Award, which held on May 2 and 3 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, had a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Grand Patron of Etiquette Africa Conference, Obong Victor Attah, as chief host; with keynote address by a former Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Usman Sarki, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, as guest of honour.
The first session moderated by veteran broadcaster, Cyril Stober, had a former minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; veteran broadcaster, Mrs. Eugenia Abu; Chief Executive Officer of GOTNI Leadership Centre, Dr. Linus Okorie; behavioural alignment expert, Dr. James Komolafe and Director General of National Orientation Agency, Mallam Issa-Onilu, represented by an aide, Mr. Anthony Eromosele, as panelists.
The second session was moderated by legal practitioner, Mr. Ebaide Omiunu; with management consultant/certified trainer and coach, Christie Eleojo Adejoh; Managing Director of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Dr. Kabir Adamu; diplomacy and strategic communication professional, Mr. Taiwo Isijola; Principal/CEO of Innovationeering Limited, Mr. Emeka Iloegbunam and National Coordinator, YALI/ Farmer, Mr. Daniel Black as panelists.
The dinner and awards ceremony at Transcorp Hilton Hotel on May 3 was attended by Attah, HRH, King Alfred Dietie-Spiff, Mr. Femi Adesina and others.
