Angela Atabo
Vice President Kassim Shettima said an ethical and morally upright society is essential to attract investors and foster economic development.
Shettima, who was represented by Bashir Maidugu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Legal and Compliance Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, said this at a webinar tagged “Let’s Talk Ethics” in Abuja on Tuesday. said.
The theme of the webinar is “Community Engagement for Ethical Transformation, Leadership, and Integrity.”
It was organized by Citizens Society for Ethics and Values Development Initiative (CSEVDI) to commemorate Independence Day.
According to Shettima, this call was urgent because a nation’s morals are like teeth; the more they rot, the more they hurt when touched.
He said President Bola Tinubu has many challenges for the country’s growth.
He said the current government’s “New Hope” agenda cannot be an effective change policy without honest ethical change, real leadership and uncompromising integrity at all levels.
He added that Nigeria is in urgent need of a change of direction, a repositioning of Nigeria and Nigerians in terms of values that should be cherished for the country to be where it needs to be.
“I was impressed by the organizers of this webinar because this is a great way for us as mothers, parents and teachers to ensure that we imbibe ethics and morals within ourselves at a young age and live a better life. Because it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to ensure that society can
“That’s because there is no morally upright society. Without a morally upright society, there can be no positive economic growth.
“Investors would be reluctant to invest in such a society.
“So it is the responsibility of all Nigerians, not just government and the private sector, to ensure that things are done the way they should be done.
“We don’t do it because people are looking at us. It’s not because we want people to notice, it’s because it’s the right thing to do. If we always do the right thing, we’ll have a better society.”
He reiterated that Nigeria’s seven national ethics as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution are discipline, integrity, dignity of work, social justice, religious tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism.
“Our moral teeth are bruised because this national code of ethics has been followed more in violation than in honesty and integrity.
“We are hopelessly in an ethical wilderness of unimaginable proportions.
“The completely negative values that resulted from abandoning the noble path of ethical behavior have had a serious impact on our personal corporate image and reputation at home and abroad,” he said.
Shettima said the first step towards a thorough review of national ethics is a revolutionary reorientation of society’s values.
He said there was a need to embark on a serious search for a true national culture that would reshape Nigeria’s core value system, national identity and national image.
He urged Nigerians to be very patient as the government has positive plans for the country but it will require sacrifices.
The initiative’s Civil Society Secretary, Tajudeen Toyin Oke, said the organization had been working to make Nigeria an ethically compliant society and restore Nigeria to its lost glory.
Toyin Oke said Nigeria was once a respected country and till date, Nigerians have always been on top anywhere in the world.
“When you go to university, Nigerians always come out on top, so we felt as a civil society we should do something to strengthen the government’s efforts.
“We decided to use Nigeria Independence Day as a forum where we can reach out to Nigerians through webinars so that we can reach out to more people.
“I wrote a book called Ethical Dilemmas, Shattered Commissions and New Paths for Ethics and Values in Nigeria to convey this message.
“We asked Congress if there was a way to enact a law that would encourage people to have ethics and morals,” he said.
Toyin Oke called on Nigerians to use this inaction as an opportunity to make the country an ethically compliant society.
“That’s my duty, that’s your duty, that’s our duty. With that in mind, when we talk about ethics, it’s about doing the right thing and doing the good thing. We all know when it’s right.
“Today, as we celebrate a year as a nation, let this be our standard,” he said. (South)
Edited by Joe Idika
