FEATURES
The deteriorating state of the moral values in our society could to traceable to several indices or factors. One of such factors , perceived to be plaguing against the harmonious and peaceful coexistence among the people in the society is the rising cases of social vices ,especially among the youths.
The essence of inculcating on children, the right moral values of the society is predicated on the burning need to sustain certain critical conventional practices aimed at having a better society , devoid of crimes though one could also come to terms that no society could be entirely rid of crimes, owing to the dynamic nature of our society as a result of modernisation.
However,crime should be minimal if it cannot be wholely brought to an end. To this end,it calls for the immediate attention of every stakeholder in the society to tackle the issue with renewed vigour and all sense of commitment in line with the saying that 'a stitch in time saves nine' . With the growing dimension at which crimes are being perpetrated even in our immediate proximity on daily basis there is no doubt that it is tinting towards a situation where the entire society would be consumed in the nearest future if all stakeholders continue to maintain their existing posture by not rediscovering the missing links in time.In rediscovering the missing links, all hands must be on deck with the government,parents, religious organisations and even the children themselves, playing their parts. In this case, parents should play the fundamental role by ensuring that their children and wards are not unnecessarily exposed to things that necessitate lapses and jupardize their life.
Records have shown that on daily basis, Nigeria society just like other global societies is being confronted and seriously grappling with certain high profiled security challenges. From kidnapping to oil theft especially in the southern part of the country, armed robbery, yahoo richuals and now,the one that seems to be defiling all tenacious efforts and logistics being unleashed by the various security agencies, talking about the Boko'Haram menace and the nefarious activities of the fulani herdsmen.
The dastard actions of these evil monsters against mankind, have continued to threaten the continued existence of all individuals, who at one time or the other fall victims either with their lives suddenly cut short,that is brought to abrupt end or their means of livelihood including their property destroyed thus launching them into untold hardship.
The rising spate in which youths og nowadays relish crimes and other forms of unpleasant life-style shoild be brought to the fore and be a source of concern to all stakeholders .
It could be recalled that, through proper upbringing children are effectively guided not to derail from upholding the ideas and tenets og the society. A practical example is that they are made to understand that it is only through stint of hardwork and uncommon commitment,that one could actualise one's dreams of living a fulfilled life or getting to the pinnacle of their career /skills and henceforth , make wealth genuinely rather than aspire to be rich just over night without definite, approved means of livelihood.
Again, in the past children especially youths do not phantom blood letting. By this I mean they do not indulge in violent acts that could lead to loss of precious lives thus putting the family members into a state of desolation as they consider lives to be sacrosanct .They see such action as a 'taboo' that should be avoided and value lives in adherence with the scriptural doctrines , that no man has the prerogative of power to end his or another man's life except God almighty.
Today, the reverse is the case as available and reliable statistics have indicated that there is unabating instances or cases of moral decadence among children. There is a paradigm shift from what was the scenario several decades ago and generations gone past as a sizeable proportion of youths these days no longer show politeness and respect to their elders as the culture demands even though there are handful of them from good family background that are still conscious of the fact that something of great value could be missing in them if they do not give respect to their elderly ones.
Worst still is the raging menace of cultism where able bodied youths who ought to be contributing immensely to the nation's GDPs and their economic wellbeing are blowing away their prospects in life through indulgence in cultism and other related activities that are inimical to the growth and development of the society. Some of these include commercial sex activities popularly known as prostitution as in the case of the female folks . The minds of some youths of this generation , that is the 21st century are preoccupied with how to make money in a quicker way.
Often time, the individuals who engage in cultism may not be aware of the dangers inherent in what they had taken into as virtually many of them may be lured into it by their older friends who usually take advantage of their innocence and teenage.
In view of the foregoing, however,parents must strive to as a matter of fact, always scrutinize the kind of relationship, friends and associations their children keep from time to time so that at the end, they do not influence them negatively leaving the parents , and innocent members of the society to contend with their activities as they may become threat to the society.
To rid the society off crimes at least to the barest minimum, stakeholders should go back to the drawing board and tackle the phenomenon squarely from the root rather than ending up in just window-dressing that might not stand the test of time.
Certain crucial steps and measures need to be put in place. First, parents should ensure that they keep talking to their children on the need to embrace the ideas of a good society, ensure that their children are dissuaded from engaging in acts that could dent the image of their family as well as make them understand that there are no quickest way of becoming rich except through genuine instrument of hardwork. Parents should also ensure that they meet both the educational/skills and material needs of their children because as the saying goes :'an idle mind is the devils workshop ' .
In addition to the conventional role of the parents to their children, governments at all levels must embark on some strategic approaches to complement their efforts of parents in bid to unravel the issue by nipping it on the bud.
Governments must carry out sentization/advocacy programmes across all nooks and crannies of the society, which theme should focus on the dangers of crimes and urgent need to shun it totally. This could also be achieved through the production and airing of well thought and articulated jingles on the major mass media channels such as the radio and perhaps, the television media. This kind of sensitization should be consistent so that it would be effective and result oriented.
Again, the religious organisations have salient role to play. Religious leaders - the pastors, imams in the case of the Islamic religion must be sincere with the kind of doctrines they inculcate in their faithful. At all times, they should ensure that their sermons centre on the ten commandments , which is hinged on the right doctrines . They should not destroy the foundation laid by Christ on the alter of personal gains as most religious teachers , instead of preaching salvation of mankind , may end up worshipping worthless richness and ill gotten wealth as a result of the weight of money those culprits lavish on them.
Similarly, the children should have value reorientation . They should shun greed because a greedy mindset always end up in crime. Hard work and suffer before pleasure must be the guiding principles of our children .
At the end , there would be hand of God in everything one does. Lastly, teachers in schools should be up and doing by ensuring that the children are taught the right thing especially the moral values .
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