Awka -Mr Mike Okiro, the Chairman, Police Service Commission and former Inspector-General of Police, has urged Nigerians, especially those in leadership positions, to imbibe strong moral virtues as a way of life.
Okiro made the call while delivering his keynote address at the maiden National Annual Conference of the Association for Moral Education, Nigeria (AMEN), in Awka on Wednesday.
He said that moral education and maturity on the part of the citizenry of a country were prerequisites for the development of that country.
“Indeed, moral development is the most important aspect of national development for there can be no development of a country if the citizens are morally under-developed and immature.
“How can there be development in a country in which public funds are embezzled by those who control them and who are supposed to use them for develop projects/
“How can there be development in a country in which self-interest is the dominant rule of action/” he asked.
Okiro suggested that for the country to develop in the interest of all, citizens should make moral virtues their way of life.
He listed the virtues to include love, truth, honesty, sincerity, self-sacrifice, integrity, unity, patience, justice, hard work, compassion, among others.
According to him, moral vices such as hatred, lies, dishonesty, insincerity, selfishness, segregation, nepotism, injustice, bribery, corruption, superstition, laziness should be avoided.
He added that such had destroyed homes, lives and nations.
Okiro explained that once the informal public system got the standards right, the political environment would inevitably be a reflection of the system.
He added that this would further lead to socio-economic development in the end.
Earlier, Gov. Willie Obiano, noted that moral decadence was on the increase due to the impact of the social media, especially among secondary school students.
Obiano further expressed concern over the decline in cultural values of the country, noting that much needed to be done to reverse the trend.
The governor charged teachers to be role models and instill in students the shared values of the state government geared towards moral rebirth of the society.
He gave an assurance that his administration would continue to make the educational infrastructure, comfort of students and welfare of teachers its priority.
The governor assured the association of continued support from the government.
Also, the National Coordinator of AMEN, Rev. Sis. Mary-Jude Nwodo, said the conference aimed at producing a blueprint on moral rebirth, which would form policy statements of governments at all levels and schools’ curriculum.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “Moral Education:“ Bedrock for National Development”. (NAN)
