By Wole Balogun
SA Media to VC
An Associate Professor of Theatre and Media Arts (TMA) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Dr. Olaide Taofiq Nasir, has orientated the South-West chapter of the Theatre Arts And Motion Pictures Practitioners Association Of Nigeria (TAMPAN), towards ensuring that the union is better led and in peaceful co-existence.
The orientation came in form of a lecture entitled: “Causes of Conflict and Peaceful Resolution among Executives”, and delivered by Dr. Nasir, a Drama Therapist, as part of the activities that featured during the TAMPAN annual retreat which held at the playhouse of the Ondo State cultural centre in Akure, Ondo state capital on January 30, 2024.
TAMPAN executives who participated in the programme included exco members from Ekiti, Ondo, and Abuja states.
In his lecture, Dr. Nasir underscored the fact that conflict is inevitable between or among parties adding that such development has its merits and demerits. He defined conflict as a process where :”one party suggests that its interests are being opposed by another party”…adding that though people in an organization have divergent views towards conflict , what is paramount is that it must be resolved amicably without either side feeling cheated or defeated.
Citing some benefits of a well managed conflict, he said:”…. conflict is good and necessary…because conflict can stimulate innovative thinking when properly managed.“
Dr. Nasir who holds the first doctoral degree in Drama Therapy in Africa, delved more into the causes of conflicts by identifying what he termed the selfish and unselfish nature of a man. He disclosed that the selfish nature of man usually leads to conflict, clarifying that :” When much attention is being given to the individual purpose without relating to the whole purpose there is bound to be conflict and this is the genesis of selfishness.”
He also identified two types of conflict as constructive or functional conflict which leads to progress and fulfillment and the dysfunctional conflict which is aimed at destroying relationships.
Explicating further, he said conflicts that arise from achieving the common goals of an organization is functional while those that come from attempt to make personal interests override the common interest is a dysfunctional conflict and should be discouraged.
Dr. Nasir spoke in both Yoruba and English to ensure better grasp of his points by the TAMPAN exco members. He underscored the need for leaders to ensure both parties involved in any conflict are allowed to air their views before decisions to end the conflict are taken and discouraged an autocratic approach towards settling conflicts.
He also identified the negative effects of unresolved conflicts on both the individual member of an organization and the collective group, as causing emotional issues, discouraging active participation and others which kill the organization.
He encouraged the TAMPAN executives to work against allowing conflicts to fester and charged them to ensure that conflicts among themselves and their followers are resolved amicably.
Charging them further, he urged them to Identify the conflict elements, emotions, behaviour and contradictions among their members, assuring them that :” …conflicts can and must be resolved by taking into account the needs of the people affected by the conflict. In other words, for a solution to be lasting, it must meet the needs of all those involved in the conflict. A solution in which one party’s needs are met at the expense of the needs of the other party, is neither just nor likely to last for a long time .”
Dr. Nasir equally responded to questions from the exco members after his lecture and urged them to take time to study their roles as spelt out in their constitution as further step towards avoiding conflicts that could mar the union. He was applauded for sharing with the TAMPAN executives insightful thoughts on how to manage their union better.
Speaking earlier, the global president of TAMPAN, Otunba Bolaji Amusan aka Baba Latin, noted that TAMPAN has got chapters overseas and in such countries as Canada, Germany Ivory Coast and others, said:” The retreat is for us to learn how to do things the way we are supposed to do it.
I had promised to make TAMPAN much better than l met it. There is no leadership without followership. All that we want is for our leaders to be role models , as leaders the onus lies on us to live by example all the time so that when we ask our followers to do things, they will obey us. We need your support it is only through this that we can make it and achieve something. “
The global President promised the government of Ondo State that the association would celebrate the World Theatre Day of the year 2024 in the state.
