Opinion/Feature
(OPINION) Who To Blame For Social Vices In Nigeria?
By Funmilayo Olusanya
Social vices are defined as undesirable characteristics, unhealthy habits, and negative attitudes that violate social norms and are despised by other people in society. Social vices are unhealthy and unethical; society does not approve of them.
Prostitution, indecent dress, robbery, cultism, pocket-picking, drug addiction, exam fraud, hooliganism, thuggery, gambling, smoking, pre-marital sexual activities, evil or immoral behavior such as murder, rape, alcoholism, taking of illegal substances, among other vices, are common among young men and women.
According to popular belief, social vices among adolescents of all genders, vices are prevalent. However, it may interest you to know that some of our so-called “elders” and, astonishingly, some of our “parents” engage in unethical and immoral behavior, raising the question of who is providing the right examples and norms?
Every sectors has a blame game i.e we have the case of each parties or sector shifts the blame to the others with an iota of responsibility.
It’s against this backdrop, that i will be given a breakdown of how each party is to be blamed. For me, Individual: 50%, Parent 40% and Government 10%.
Individuals (18 and above) are largely responsible for any social vices they display. Then the parents and lastly the system of government.
One of the major causes of social vices is poor parenting. Through proper planning, parents are to give birth to a certain number of children they would be able to cater for and nurtured in terms of providing their basic needs; giving them quality education included.
However, when a family produces more offspring than it can cater for, such children go in search of means of livelihood most times on the streets. And when parents shirk their responsibilities, training their children becomes difficult.
Most parents don’t correct their children when they go against the norms and culture of a society.
Some weeks ago, Nigerian Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti revealed that he prefers online fraud also known as ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ to gambling. The lead singer of the Egypt 80 band pleaded with African adolescents to give up gambling and engage in “Yahoo Yahoo” instead. Kuti claimed it was a plan thought up by the whites to dupe them out of their few resources and offer them false hope.
In this case, Seun Kuti is a parent and there are lots of youths following him as mentor or role model. While cyber Crime is one of the menaces facing the country, a father, mentor and role model just openly pledged his support to it!
Social vices are a dream killer, they can ruin the reputation of a man in a twinkle of an eye. many lives lost, many glory damaged due to this tragedies called social vices in Nigeria.
For example, Social media celebrity, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpupi, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison after he was convicted of laundering earnings from a school finance scam, business email hack, and other fraudulent cyber operations, by the United States District Court sitting at the Central District of California on Monday, November 7.
Hushpuppi is a an expert in frauding who had robbed people locally and internationally of their money before he was arrested by the Dubai Police in June 2020 and his extradition to the United States.
Hushpuppi, who is 40 is a father to children, now what example is he laying for this innocent kids? Because years to now, his story will still be glaring to them
I tagged Individual as 50% because there are some with good parenting upbringing, and a very good working system but social vices are still being recorded in their country.
It comes down to what you want as an individual in terms of goals, dreams, achievements, and visions.
A lot of individuals have issues setting achievable goals, thereby setting high expectations which can result in making bad decision making.
A lot of individuals dream big without realizing each dream requires the right effort.
In this world we live in nowadays, a 20-year-old male or female youth want to drive the latest car. It’s more like a competition among youths to prove who is better off in terms of who wears the latest clothes, and shoes or who has the latest phones. For these vanities, most youths go to extreme levels. Doing all these things is never an achievement.
Most young male and female want to live a sophisticated lifestyle without having to go through the process, but their father is neither Otedola nor Dangote. Rome they say is not built in a day, except you cut corners, it is impossible to be wealthy in one day.
An overview of activities in Nigeria reveals how social vices have become the order of the day among the youth. Internet fraud, cultism, prostitution, and the like have attained peak levels.
Many don’t want to go through the right process in actualizing their goals because they think it is too long and takes time to achieve them.
The individual tends to fall into peer pressure in schools, the community, or the environment.
Note: Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) chairman, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, recently confirmed in one of her posts online that Nigeria’s crime rate is one of the highest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
It could be recalled that recently, UAE slams a visa ban on all citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, and 17 other African countries.
Also, the Nigerian government has evacuated 542 stranded Nigerians in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
All these come down to Nigerian youths constituting these social vices even when they get to other countries.
You have the power to choose as an individual whether to do right or wrong as we are responsible for our future.
Further more, I will tag the government as 10% because looking at it, the system of government abroad is something to write home about.
Government abroad gives their citizens many advantages like funds, exposure, freedom, good educational system yet there are still citizens that misuse these opportunities.
These people still get involved in crimes, like robbery, prostitution, murder, etc.
Meanwhile In a situation where we have a weak civilian and corrupt government, like Nigeria it increases the rate of social vices in the society.
This country Nigeria has frustrated so many youths into getting engaged in immoral acts and behavior.
Cyber Crime is common in Nigeria today because the citizens especially the youth sort for greener pastures because of unemployment.
Nigeria has left many handicapped and disoriented as they retire to the saying: “There is no job in Nigeria.” Thus, idleness is a great enhancer of illicit affairs.
So many seek greener pastures wherever or in whichever way they can whether negative or positive they don’t care.
My Opinion
Parents should do well to teach their children/wards morals, principles and acceptable societal values from a young age, to help position their minds in making the right decisions and doing the right thing. In this mindset, the youth will be able to handle whatever society throws at them.
Again, this is a passionate appeal to every parent to instill the right morals and appropriate societal values in their children from a tender age. The Holy Book says: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he would not depart from it.” Having done this, our country will be a better and safer place.
As an individual God gave us a brain to think, we all have unique abilities God bestowed on us, don’t use that your great talent in cyber Crime, fraud, or scamming people, remember you will be the one to bear the consequences and you can lose your life in the process. Don’t allow anyone to rush you and don’t rush yourself, learn to go through the process.
The government should also provide good job opportunities and create empowerment programs for the youths to get them busy since “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.
Opinion/Feature
Downstream Deregulation: Between Obasanjo’s Half-measures And Tinubu’s Bold Leadership
Opinion/Feature
UNCOMMON SCHOLAR, EXCEPTIONAL ADMINISTRATOR: MY TRIBUTE TO PROF. OLOYEDE AT 70
By President Bola Tinubu
As Professor Ishaq Oloyede turns 70 tomorrow, October 10, I pay a special tribute to this astute administrator, educator, author, and scholar, currently the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar.
As the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Oloyede’s invaluable contributions to the nation through academia and public-sector administration have significantly impacted the academic community.
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His impactful tenure at the University of Ilorin, during which he introduced landmark ideas and innovations that helped the institution attain enviable heights, is on record.
Through patriotic dedication and commitment to his craft, Prof Oloyede imparted knowledge and character to thousands of students who underwent his teaching during his glorious and impactful academic career.
Indeed, the bedrock of development lies in education. Developing nations, including Nigeria, are in dire need of more scholars like Prof. Oloyede. His selfless sacrifices and innovative approaches to learning and leadership give hope for a brighter future.
Perhaps more remarkable is Prof. Oloyede’s transformative leadership at JAMB. He pioneered and sustained a series of reforms and technological innovations that have made the admission process in Nigeria transparent and credible.
In his eight years of stewardship at the board, thus far, Prof. Oloyede has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to financial integrity and accountability in public service. He has also raised the bar in administration and management.
I am proud of Prof. Oloyede’s accomplishments.
The nation owes the Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence a debt of gratitude for transforming JAMB, traditionally a non-revenue-generating government agency, into a consistent contributor to the national treasury through efficient financial management. His contributions to JAMB are invaluable and greatly appreciated.
On this occasion of his 70th birthday, I join members of the academic community, students, JAMB staff, and well-wishers in celebrating this scholar who, in words and deeds, has also done a lot to propagate the Islamic religion.
I pray that Almighty Allah will continue to honour the distinguished professor with health, wisdom and strength to serve the nation for many more years.
Opinion/Feature
Clarification On NNPCL Refinery Operations
By Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri PhD
My attention has been drawn to statements made by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos. I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries is false. This does not represent my position as Minister overseeing the oil sector, nor does it reflect the stance of the Federal Government.
It is important to clarify that NNPCL is a company governed under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a functional board and management. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources does not control or run NNPCL, as it operates independently like any corporate entity.
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The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and the Nigerian government remains committed to promoting in-country refining. We encourage companies, including NNPCL, to operate independently, following global best practices. While we provide strategic guidance, we do not interfere directly in the operations of these companies.
I reaffirm our commitment to supporting the growth and independence of NNPCL, ensuring that its operations are in line with international standards for efficiency and transparency and profitability.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri PhD, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), wrote from Abuja, Nigeria