A faculty member of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Lateef Abiola presented his latest research on the relationship between workforce diversity and employee commitment at the May edition of the DLI Monthly Seminar Series.
Held on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Red Bricks boardroom of the DLI Complex, UNILAG, Akoka, the session highlighted the critical interplay between workplace dynamics and organizational success.
Dr. Abiola’s presentation, titled: Relationship Between Workforce Diversity and Employee Commitment, examined how diversity across gender, ethnicity, age, and professional background can enhance employee commitment when effectively managed.
His research, grounded in Social Identity Theory and the Job Demands-Resources Model, revealed that inclusive policies and strong leadership foster higher commitment in diverse teams, while mismanagement risks disengagement.
Drawing on Nigerian case studies, he advocated for diversity training and equitable practices to create inclusive workplaces. The UNILAG Alumnus emphasized that when paired with inclusive strategies, workforce diversity boosts collaboration and innovation. He offered practical insights for organizations seeking to strengthen employee engagement in Nigeria’s evolving business environment.
Dr. Abiola’s engaging delivery and interactive presentation prompted lively discussions, with faculty members scrutinizing his methodology and proposing future research directions.
Earlier, Deputy Director (Academic, Programmes & Development), Dr. Abosede Ebabhi, who represented the DLI Director, Professor Risikat Dauda opened the seminar with a warm welcome address, underscoring the importance of the seminar series in promoting academic exchange and intellectual collaboration.
Her words, “This platform is important for us as it enables our scholars to share their research, while we engage in critical discourse, and spark cross-fertilization of ideas.”
Dr. Ebabhi praised the DLI community for their commitment to advancing knowledge and expressed excitement for the session’s potential to inspire impactful insights.
The seminar concluded with a closing remarks from the Deputy Director (Management & Coordination), Dr (Mrs) Adenike Oladipo who expressed appreciation to every member who made the seminar a success and commended Dr. Abiola’s work. She reaffirmed DLI’s commitment to fostering research that addresses contemporary organisational and societal challenges.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Samuel Olaifa Dosunmu
