ISSN: 2222-6990
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Twenty-first century organizations are becoming increasingly diverse, such that organisations that wants to survive and remain competitive needs to recognize this growing trend, and provide equal opportunities for all her employees’ unique attribute and characteristics. As most organizations adhere to this, out of compulsion, in order to satisfy the legal requirements, others adopt reactive and contingent measures. This study was embarked upon to unravel diversity in the Nigerian organisations, which is one of the sensitive but mostly neglected factor that can determine the success and sustenance of the organisation. The study examined federal character principle which is one of the policies of Nigerian government on diversity management, the prospects of diversity management and identified the challenges and consequences of diversity mismanagement within the organisation. Using secondary data, the study found that diversified workforce will improve talent acquisition and retention, creativity, employee development, customer service and satisfaction. The identified challenges are leadership failure, resistance to change, weak institutions, unenforced employment standards, and consequences of diversity mismanagement are poor mental health, intra organisation conflict, attack on team spirit, damaged reputation and public image, It recommended that management should focus on the advancement of individuality within the organization, by hiring talents from diverse background, create open communication, give avenue for feedback, set and enforce objective standards, engage in diversity training for employees and managers, leaders should adopt and be committed to the diversity culture by recognizing that every person has unique contribution, that can make for the fulfilment of the unified organisational goal.
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