Understanding the Importance of Values & Principles
Recent events in Nigeria have caused us to take a moment to reflect on the importance of values and principles and how they help to guide our actions and thinking, mindset and world view.
Values and principles are important because they help us make decisions based on a set of pre-agreed parameters. They are important pillars to keep us centred on defining the boundaries of what should or should not be conceived, implemented or pursued as objectives, strategy and outcomes.
- On a business level, corporate values help organizations to build a unified culture that enables employees to collaborate and work to achieve desired business outcomes.
- In politics, it enables a government and its institutions, to pursue a specific agenda over a period of time.
- On a societal level, it enables communities to agree on what is acceptable or unacceptable conduct and to work hard to protect and defend the ideal.
- On an individual level, it also helps one to make the right decisions about how to relate with others in society and not harm or hinder the progress of others in pursuit of one’s own objectives.
Values and principles make for a safe, secure and well ordered life and society; especially when rooted in universal principles of honesty, integrity and respect for others. Any business, society, nation, community or group of people that does not subscribe to a tangible set of values rooted in any of these values is likely to be disorderly, chaotic, harmful and unsustainable. Organizations run without values, standards or principles will never be global or truly international. They are not likely to become market leaders or survive beyond the lifetime of their founders. In the same way, a nation or community that sets aside the principles of honesty, integrity and respect for others and actively pursues the opposite – for whatever reason, is likely to stagnate or regress dramatically.
At Sola Abulu & Associates, we believe that business and society work better when people are treated as the END and not the MEANS. We believe that business, communities, politics and government should work collaboratively for the good of society. We believe in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which articulates 30 basic human rights – including rights to life, education, to organize, to vote, be treated fair, freedom of opinion, expression, thought and religion etc. We believe that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the EQUAL and INALIENABLE rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world and in the communities we inhabit.
We believe it is important for all stakeholders in Nigeria to ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to ensuring that all communities are protected and respected in alignment with the basic fundamental human rights that we have signed up to as a people and a nation. Anything less is unacceptable.