Broken Morality: Reinventing a New Ethical Culture in Nigeria for Civic Righteousness

Abstract

This paper examines Nigeria's ethical deterioration and proposes pathways toward sustainable ethical cultural renewal. The author argues that Nigeria has transformed from a once-respected nation in the 1970s to one facing severe moral challenges across public and private sectors. The research identifies key factors contributing to this decline, including corruption, weak enforcement of ethical standards, fragmented policies, and the failure of religious institutions to instill moral values despite Nigeria's deeply religious character. The paper analyzes how economic mismanagement and corruption have led to widespread poverty, forcing citizens to choose survival over ethical conduct. It draws historical parallels with the 16th century Reformation, particularly Calvin's transformation of Geneva, to demonstrate how ideological shifts can create positive ethical cultures with significant socioeconomic impacts. The methodology is qualitative, analytical, and comparative, relying on secondary data, thematic organization, and historical/contextual analysis rather than empirical fieldwork or quantitative surveys. The approach is suited to the paper’s aim of diagnosing ethical problems and proposing high-level solutions for cultural renewal in Nigeria. The author concludes that reconstructing Nigeria's ethical culture requires a comprehensive approach: developing a new worldview, implementing strong leadership committed to ethical primacy, ensuring consistent enforcement of laws, and fostering collective responsibility. This renewal demands both institutional reforms and a societal commitment to ethical principles that can restore public trust and create a sustainable foundation for Nigeria's development.