Youth tasked on behavioural re-orientation

Strong moral tutoring in the educational system and behavioural re-orientation of youth have been suggested as panaceas to save the nation from the brink of collapse.

Professor Emeritus Godwin Sogolo, a renowned philosopher made this known recently during the 21st convocation and investiture ceremony of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) held at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

The event had 121 professors from different Nigerian and foreign universities in attendance.

In a paper titled, “Morality and the State: the Nigerian Experience,’’ Sogolo cautioned against the assault of technology and the internet on our moral values and cultural traditions, saying that ‘the new social media technology is re-wiring the minds of our youths, their thoughts and their conduct.’

“There is a problem. The attitude and conduct of some of our religious practitioners, even priests and imams, hardly justify the claim that religion is the foundation of morality,” Sogolo said.

A communiqué by the Academy called for the need to review relevant sections of the Nigerian constitution that contradict the secular state status and effectively separate religion from the state.

Sogolo further expressed dissatisfaction and lack of faith in the legal system or failure of the law to sanction human conduct, which, according to him, “weakens society’s moral grip on the individual.’’

The president of the Academy, Professor Francis Egbokhare, explained that the ‘exponential decay and new primitivism’ in the Nigerian society was part of the reason Sogolo was invited to speak.

The communiqué, signed by Professor Egbokhare said, “36 new members were inducted and six new Regular Fellows.”

Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi and Mr Olusegun Adeniyi of Thisday newspapers were admitted as honorary fellows.