Driving Sustainability through Cultural Diversity

To commemorate this year’s Cultural Diversity Day, Sahara Group, in recognition of the role diversity plays as a crucial enabler of sustainable development, reiterated its firm belief in equal opportunity employment policy, zero discrimination, and collaborative accountability, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

The splash of colours at Sahara Group, a leading international energy conglomerate with proud African heritage is unmistakable. They are vibrant, audacious, and fiery. They epitomise the brand’s insatiable desire to innovate more, disrupt more and transform more in the pursuit of excellence and making a difference.

They find expression in almost 5,000 Sahara employees across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Talk about professionals from multiple nationalities contributing unique masterstrokes to the Sahara vision – bringing energy to life.

Since 1996 when Sahara made its debut in the oil and gas sector, there has always been a clear thread that connects the unique parts that have made the organisation outstanding across the value chain. From upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors to power and infrastructure, the impact of diversity on Sahara’s continuing success stories is inspiring.

Every May 21, Sahara Group in all its locations, turns on its diversity along with the world to celebrate the Cultural Diversity Day. With multiple nationalities represented in the Group, the event is one of the flagship celebrations at Sahara. The employees put in great effort – with gusto – to turn up at work in different cultural attires, representative of just about any culture in the world.

In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. and in In December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. In 2015, the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution on Culture and Sustainable Development A/C.2/70/L.59, affirming culture’s contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledging further the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and recognising that cultures and civilizations can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of, sustainable development.

The mass confinement that attended the COVID-19 pandemic took the world back to the basics. We witnessed some form of cultural renaissance that saw people around the globe turning to culture for solace as the virus went on rampage.
We would see a rise in virtual visits to museums and galleries, streaming of films and even community choirs via social media – showing its fundamental role as a source of resilience for communities.

The United Nations notes that three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension, adding that bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability, and development. “Cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life.

“This is captured in the culture conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development,” said the UN about cultural diversity.

Considering the above, there is little wonder why Sahara goes out of its way to celebrate cultural diversity. “For us at Sahara, diversity finds expression in our equal opportunity employment policy, zero discrimination, and collaborative accountability that drives our mantra – your job is not done until the job is done. We respect and relish the outstanding milestones we have achieved on the pedestal of diversity at Sahara. Every Saharian contributes something unique as we continue to make a difference and bring energy to life,” said Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications at Sahara.