The Rising Moral Decadence In Modern Society

In my mother tongue (igala), it is often said: manakólalo alonaba, alu ogijo magbulu omiéka.

It roughly translates to: we are complaining about the corrosiveness of caustic soda, yet the caustic soda keeps becoming even more corrosive.

Omiéka is a local drink made by diluting pap with excess water and allowing it to sit for a few days, giving it a sour, fermented taste. You can sense its smell from the mouth of an elder who has taken it.

In the same way, our elders continue to imbibe, impart, and inculcate moral values in the younger generation. They relentlessly caution, warn, and guide us about the dangers and consequences of social vices, even though society keeps growing more corrosive in its behaviour.

There is a growing uneasiness in today’s world, a feeling that something fundamental(societal morality) is slipping quietly through our fingers. Everywhere we turn, from our neighbourhoods to the vast digital world where many young people now spend their lives, we encounter signs that moral values are weakening. What used to be shameful is now proudly displayed and even celebrated in some instances. What used to command respect is now mocked and denigrated. And in the middle of it all, our youths are drifting, often without guidance, drowning in a culture that celebrates shortcuts rather than character, a culture that lacks substance and positivity.

Many of the social vices we see today ranging drug abuse, cybercrime, reckless sexual behaviour, cultism, gambling, online bullying, violent peer pressure and the likes did not suddenly appear. They grew slowly as our societies relaxed the moral guards and standards. What makes the situation more alarming is not just the presence of these vices, but the way they have been normalized and in some cases glorified. A young person does not need to stand for anything meaningful anymore. Sometimes all it takes is a viral video or a questionable show of wealth to earn applause. We became a generation that is in danger of valuing attention more than integrity.

This moral decline has roots deeper than we often admit. Many homes have lost their sense of purpose. My social studies teacher in secondary school taught me that family is the first agent of socialization, the family is the first informal school a child is moulded intellectually and character-wise. But today, parents are overwhelmed, absent, or simply unable to provide the attention and guidance that children need. The family, which should be the first school of character, has in many places become fractured or silent. Communities that once served as extended guardians have retreated into indifference. Elders who used to correct wrongdoing now look away, either out of fear or exhaustion. Social media, with its unfiltered influence and endless comparisons, has become a teacher, one that shapes behaviour faster than parents and mentors. Add the pressures of unemployment, poverty, and the constant visibility of corrupt “success stories,” yes most of the so called success we see online are not ethically clean, now you get a generation unsure of what values are truly worth holding onto.

Yet the responsibility for fixing this does not lie solely with parents. Families matter, but so do communities, schools, religious bodies, and society as a whole. Children watch the world around them carefully. When they see dishonesty rewarded, they take note. When they see society excuse bad behaviour, they learn that consequences do not matter. When they observe leaders lacking integrity, they quietly adjust their expectations of life. If we want a different generation, it begins with the examples we collectively uphold, and like the earlier slogan of the political party "APC" what we need is change, and this change should begin with you and me. Change in attitude, change in worldview, change in standards, and a totalitarian approach to our whole orientation, we don't just need change, we need positive change.

Reversing this decline requires deliberate action from all of us. Families must reclaim their role as the first moulders of character trough presence, discipline, and open conversations. Communities must find their voice again, guiding and supporting young people without fear or apathy it is wrong for elders to sit on the fence in the face of adversity. Schools should go beyond academics and dedicate time to value formation, empathy, leadership, and discipline. Religious and cultural institutions must shift from entertainment-driven gatherings to intentional moral guidance. Nobody can ever be a good adherent of a religion, unless and until he/she is first, a good human being. And a good human being will definitely not be involved in any form of social vices. Even the media must rethink the kind of lifestyles it glorifies, understanding that millions of young minds are watching and learning.

We also need to create real opportunities for young people, safe spaces, mentorship programmes, skill centres, and platforms where hard work, patience, and integrity are celebrated. Society must reward good examples loudly and expose harmful ones honestly. And most importantly, there must be consequences for wrongdoing. A society that tolerates everything ends up losing everything.

The truth is simple: if we lose our young people to moral collapse, we lose our future long before it even arrives. But this decline is not irreversible. The same society that is drifting can be redirected, if we are willing to confront the problem and take responsibility. It begins with the courage to admit that we are drifting, and with the determination to guide our young ones back toward values that build, rather than destroy.

This is not a task for one group alone. It belongs to all of us. And the sooner we begin, the better the future we leave behind.

Manakólalo alonaba. Alu ogijo magbulu omiéka.

May the new year redeem our culture and morality.

®Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️ 

#Uloko