Obiano, Mike Okiro, Prof Obioma Lament Moral Decay in Nigeria …call for institution of moral education in schools

Former Inspector-General of Police, Sir (Dr) Mike Okiro; Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and other eminent Nigerians, yesterday (today) took turns to lament the soaring rate of immoralities among Nigerians especially the younger generation, lamenting that if nothing is done urgently, it would bring the nation on her knees. They decried that the emergence of the social media has dealt a deadly below-the-belt-blow on the moral values of the young people. They made the observation at the 1st National Annual Conference organized by the Association for Moral Education Nigeria (AMEN) themed: Moral Education: Bedrock for National Development.

Okiro, who doubles as the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Abuja decried that the display of ill-gotten wealth by corrupt individuals has affected the psych of the younger generation negatively; hence, needs urgent rescue before the matter goes out of control.

“Unnecessary display of ill-gotten wealth threatened and still threatens Nigeria’s democratic political process. When the leaders and the people think of public service in instrumental way, accountability declines, and national development is adversely affected. It is not out of place to note at this juncture that the youths of this great country need inspiring role models who make positive contributions to the communities/society, because as of now most of our youths are growing up without knowing that corruption is socially injurious” he said.

While declaring the event open, Gov. Willie Obiano who was represented by his Commissioner for Information, Dr Uju Nwogu disclosed that “moral education is more of character building. There is great decay in morality in our society because of lack of fear of God among the people. And that is what we are trying to restore in Anambra. We are laying emphasis on moral education in schools in order to catch them young; we are also retraining our teachers. Negative usage of the social media is destroying our society today. In schools, reports have it that children watch pornographic movies and pictures and that must be stopped.”

Meanwhile, the national coordinator of the group, Sr. Mary Jude-Theresa Nwodo, in her speech, revealed that her NGO which is under the provisions of Minnesota Non-Profit Corporation Act and recognised by Section 501, subsection 3 organization by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America is poised to breathe life into the comatose social value of Nigerians; noting that the group would stop at nothing to achieve its set objectives.

Professor Goodwill Obioma, delivering the theme talk, bewailed the corrosion of core Igbo values such as respect for elders, helping the weak and aged. He attributed the facilitated development of the BRIC economies to their ingrained moral values and called on Nigerians to borrow a leaf from them. Professor Obioma observed that the campaign to add Moral Education to our curriculum is a timely one given the institution of PMB as our president, a man, he termed, an embodiment of integrity. He, therefore, called on Anambra State government to set the pace in inculcating moral education to the curriculum, starting from the teacher institutes.

The event was, however, attended by the crème de la crème in Nigeria including commissioners of various ministries, traditional rulers, and moral crusaders among others.