OF MORALITY AND VALUE SYSTEMS

By Matthew Eloyi

Morality and value systems are vital to the survival of any society because they are the foundation of all social structures and organizations. Without first grasping what morality is, we cannot begin to assess what moral values are. The word “morality” comes from the Latin word “mores,” which means “manners” or “morals.” Adopting norms or principles to govern one’s behaviour and behaviour in society is what it means to be moral or morally conscious. Moral values are instilled in society’s members in order to improve character development, moral upbringing, and moral wellness in individuals. Honesty, patience, obedience, integrity, hard work, responsibility, respect, tolerance, loyalty, public-spiritedness, freedom, respect for human life, and dignity of humans are all examples of moral values that were strictly adhered to in the past.

However, due to the dynamic nature of society, values have evolved to fit the character of a changing world, resulting in an increased wave of moral decay and moral laxity in today’s society. Moral standards have slipped, and people are now more interested in pleasure and “enjoyment” at the expense of moral values. Moral degradation has resulted in indiscipline at all levels of society, and the consequences may be seen in our casual attitude toward work, our willingness to cheat and embezzle, a lack of dignity and regard for human life, and all of these results in corruption.

The “get rich quick syndrome” has sparked a surge of corruption in modern civilizations. Individuals in positions of power steal public assets and resources in order to enrich themselves and ensure the futures of their families, with little regard for the pain and burdens that will be suffered by other members of society as a result of their actions. People nowadays take joy in lying, participating in sinful behaviours, and enhancing numerous crimes. Men’s dealings with one another are lacking in integrity, and brazen violations of laws and human rights are the norm.

However, despite the fact that societies fluctuate, there are some ideas that really focused societies aim to stick to. It is, therefore, critical for people, especially youths to hold on to moral ideals instilled to them as children in a world where development continues and societies rapidly move with the current developmental trends. It is true that society tends to favour people who can do nearly anything to get power and wealth, and it even glorifies corruption in many ways. Despite this, youths have the ability to create the cultures they desire. They can choose to make a constructive impact on society by the way they live, even if they continue to watch such tragic actions.

Despite the prevalence of immorality, the world still honours individuals of high morals who have upheld and continue to uphold undeniable and true values. For instance, Nelson Mandela, the late South African President, is remembered around the world as a genuinely amazing man who transformed the face of South Africa and restored pride to black South Africans whose spirits had been shattered by the apartheid era. Mandela was a hero, an icon, and a man of the people who started advocating for truth, justice, and freedom when he was a youth. Similarly, there are several other young people who are being celebrated all over the world today for standing for what is right.

Youths, particularly in our beautiful country Nigeria, do not have to follow the path of destruction by being morally apathetic; instead, they can make a difference in their society by doing the right thing. Life is full of options, and man is always the result of those decisions. What you decide can either make or break you. Being a whole man with knowledge, competence and positive attitudes can leave a lasting legacy for any society’s future. Youths can still practice past moral principles in today’s communities, allowing them to shape the type of change that occurs in society rather than being swept off their feet and victims of the inevitable changes that come with a changing world.

Because most youths learn from the elders in their families, the family, which is the foundation of every society, must begin to right its wrongs in terms of restructuring its value systems. If society is to truly change for the better, the family must play its role as the primary agent of socialization. Also, government and other authorities, particularly those in positions of leadership, must consider themselves role models for young people and begin to act responsibly. They must understand that the foundations created now will determine the future of tomorrow and that adolescents cannot become trustworthy leaders if they cannot follow in trust.