Publication of the Faculty of Humanities, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

The topic of this work is titled curbing moral decadence in contemporary Nigerian Society; a socio-religious approach. Right from the colonial invasion and conquest up to the present day, Nigeria has witnessed progressive degeneration of morality. Before the colonial era, the Nigerian society was characterized by the existence of norms that were pivotal to the running of the society. However, in recent times, all the prohibitions that aided the maintenance of high moral standard and disciplined society have been relegated to the background and abandoned due to the influence of western culture mainly brought about by colonial invasion. Its manifestations are seen in different dimensions of immoral activities in the society. There is therefore the need for moral reorientation. The aim of this paper is to examine how moral decadence can be curbed to the bearest minimum in contemporary Nigerian Society through Moral Education and religious approach. Decline in parental authority and domestic values, influence of science and technology, media influence, materialism, poverty, and the collapse of discipline in our schools, etc, were identified as the major causes of moral decay in Nigeria. The paper maintains that Moral Education and religious approach in schools and other institutions are the panacea to current moral decay in our society.