Vol. 12, Issue 3, 2024

The Proliferation of Higher Education, Moral and Ethical Poverty in Lagos State, Nigeria

Lawal Bolanle Saidat

Abstract

This paper examines moral and ethical poverty among citizens of Lagos State, Nigeria, in the context of the proliferation of higher education. By drawing upon a range of existing research, this paper investigates the causes of moral and ethical poverty among Lagos State citizens in Nigeria. The rapid increase in enrollment has outpaced the State's resources, causing overcrowding and lack of high-quality educational options, according to the argument that the decline in moral and ethical values among citizens is largely due to the astronomical growth of higher education. Consequently, citizens lack the necessary breadth of knowledge and understanding of ethical issues. Furthermore, it is suggested that the current emphasis upon rote learning, combined with a lack of guidance from Lagos State citizens, is contributing to a decline in moral and ethical values among citizens. The conclusion is that the current expansion of higher education is having an adverse influence on the emergence of moral and ethical values among Lagos State residents in Nigeria, and that appropriate efforts should be made to ensure an improved level of education is provided.

Keywords

Proliferation, Higher education, Ethical values, Enrollment, Moral and ethical poverty.

Full Text

Download

References

Adedara, P. B. & Bewaji, J. A. 2017. Media Theory, Practice and Ethics: A Textbook of Film and Television Studies.Ibadan: Bwright Integrated Publishers Limited.
Adetunji, C.O., Ukhurebor, K.E., Olaniyan, O.T., Olugbenga, S.M., Oloke, J.K., Ubie, B.E. 2022. Ethical and Social Aspects of Modern Biotechnology. Biosafety and Bioethics in Biotechnology. CRC Press, 51-67.
Adeyemi, B. A., & Obadiora, A. J. 2020. “Maintenance of professional ethics in a Nigerian higher institution of learning: Stakeholders views on the best practices”. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(5), 11–20.
Ajayi, K. and Adeniji, A. 2009. “Pursuing discipline and ethical issues in tertiary institutions in Nigeria”. African Research Review, Vol.3 (1), 284- 300.
Bugaje, I.M. 2021, December 29. Executive secretary blames nation’s woes on lack of functional education. https://net.nbte.gov.ng/node/161
Dukor, M. 2017, May 3. Ethical issues in Nigeria’s higher education and governance. The Guardian. https://guardian.ng/opinion/ethical-issues-innigerias-higher-education-and-governance/
Globethics.net. 2018. Ethics in Higher Education for the Common Good Annual Report.
Ike, O. F. 2016. “Ethics in Higher Education as Tool for Discovering Our Ultimate Destiny”. In O.F. Ike (Ed.), Catholic Social Teaching, Historical Overview and Application to the Challenges of Africa. Printed and bounded by BEW IT LTD, 23-34.
Ike, O. F. 2017a. Education in the 21st Century. Proceeding of the Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education Inaugural Meeting Report available on https://www.globethics.net
Ike, O. F. 2017b, February 23. Integrating Ethics in Higher Education: The Imperative of Values-based Formation of Future Leaders [Paper Presentation]. 3rd. Inaugural Lecture of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Ike, O. F. 2019. “Higher Education in Crisis: The Role of Ethics in Private Universities for Nation Building”, in: Higher Education in Crisis, Ikechukwu J. Ani / Obiora F. Ike (Eds.), Education Ethics Series 2 | Blessed Frederick Ngonso Journal of Ethics in Higher Education 1(2022) No. 5, Geneva: Globethics.net available at https://www.globethics.net/education-ethics-series
Ikechi, K. S. & Akanwa, U. N. 2012. “Unethical Practices in the Nigerian Educational System”. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 4 (8), 451 – 464.
Mfonobong, D. 2022,July 9. Top popular cult groups in Nigerian universities and symbols. https://nigerianinfofinder. com/top-cult-groups-nigerian-universities/
Parrish-Sprowl, J. 2000. “Ethical Considerations in Development Communication”. In: A. A. Moemeka (Ed.), Development Communication in Action Building and Participation. University Press of America. 203- 204.
Quadri, O. 2022, July 9. List of 24 agencies under Ministry of Education in Nigeria. https://infomediang.com/agencies-under-ministry-of-education-nigeria/
Tertiary Education TrustFund (n.d). Mission-tertiary education trust fund. https://tetfund.unn.edu.ng
Wimmer, R. D. & Dominic, J.R. 2003. Mass Media Research an Introduction. Australia: Thomson Wadsworth.
World Medical Association. 2013. Declaration of Helsinki – Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki-ethical-principles-for-medicalresearch-involving-human-subjects/. Accessed 5 Jan 2021.