There has been an outcry in the country against the desire to get rich quickly, bribery and corruption, embezzlement of public funds and other forms of mora...

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The Menace of Moral Decadence in Our Society

By Chidera Okonkwo

Scarcely a day passes without a fresh report of fraud, bribery or the reckless craze for wealth. The desire to get rich overnight, the embezzlement of public funds and the general decay of decent values have become a stain on our national life. This article examines the causes of these social evils and suggests how they may be curbed.

The first and greatest cause is the worship of wealth. Our society has come to measure a person's worth not by his character but by his cars, houses and money, no matter how they were acquired. In such a climate, honesty is mocked and the fraudster is celebrated, so young people conclude that the shortest road to riches, however crooked, is the wisest.

A second cause is the breakdown of moral training. Many homes are too busy chasing money to instil discipline, while religious and traditional restraints that once guided conduct have weakened. Where children are not taught the difference between right and wrong, they grow into adults with no inner check against greed.

A third cause is weak enforcement of the law. When corrupt officials go unpunished, or buy their way out of justice, the punishment loses its power to deter. Poverty and unemployment complete the picture, tempting desperate people to steal, cheat or take bribes simply to survive.

These evils can, however, be conquered. First, moral instruction must be revived in the home, the school and the place of worship, so that integrity is planted early. Secondly, the law must be applied firmly and without favour, for a corrupt person who knows he will be caught and punished will think twice. Anti-corruption agencies should be strengthened and shielded from interference.

Thirdly, government must create honest opportunities for work, so that the young are not driven to crime by idleness. Finally, society itself must change its values, honouring hard work and integrity rather than unexplained wealth.

If we build strong homes, enforce our laws and reward honest effort, we can rescue our society from moral ruin and hand a cleaner nation to the generations to come.