FUTO saga and moral ebb among youths

There is a sense in which the recent Federal University of Technology, Owerri, (FUTO) students’ saga in Owerri reflects the all too familiar problem of our youths untamed sexual immorality and incessant drug abuse, as the undergraduates were reported to be involved in a bizarre and wild sexual adventure, under the influence of hard drugs in their hostel leading to the death of three of the four participants as confirmed by doctors at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri. As embarrassing and tragic as the incident involving these FUTO undergraduates seems, it pales in comparison to the enormity of the underlying unabated moral decadence and lack of discipline, that is unprecedentedly high among youths today— a phenomenon which toxic cloud could be said to have overshadowed the whole of our society in its hideous, cold but slow destructive grip. In fact, sexual immorality and perversion as demonstrated by the supposedly informed undergraduates is only but an aspect of our value system that has been debased, as a function of a much more fundamental societal bane – indiscipline.

To be sure, our  society  has  witnessed tremendous  deterioration in its  moral,  social  and  educational  values,  especially  among  the  youths. Sadly, the scenario is worsening by the day with many media reports of social vices ranging from thuggery, cultism, and inordinate ambition especially for fast money, sexual abuse, certificate forgery, examination malpractice, to the very mind-boggling statistics of drug abuse among our youths, majority of who are students of various institutions of learning as reflected in the FUTO case. Then again, it is disheartening that in spite of the outcry that greeted previous maladies of drug abuse, followed by the ban on tramadol in the country, it has to be stated that we are yet to find a lasting solution to the menace, as it would seem that the banned drugs are not only in the country, they are still very much made available to the youths when they seek.

With this in mind, the younger generation they say are the leaders of tomorrow, but how can they become leaders in this state of moral lukewarmness which struts forth lustful thinking, pornography, get-rich-quick gimmicks coupled with lack of resilience and commitment to self growth and development, all of which do not portray responsibility? For one, the impact of the moral decadence is indescribable as acts of indiscipline have been the main incitement to the destabilisation of the development of the country. So, the point often overlooked is that, with these youths lies the future of any country; hence, their moral and character bankruptcy affects the whole nation. In like manner, youths’ indiscipline is like a great fire that begins with a spark, and if left unchecked, devours everything in its path. It destroys the integrity of a nation and burns to the lowest ebb.  For these reasons, the individual, irrespective of status, who continues to revel in the toxic fumes of moral decadence and not be affected and thus unbothered, is sorely deceived and doesn’t realise that this inconspicuous killer is already at work, and its consequences will eventually be felt by everyone.

To put it differently, the society which continues to overlook and downplay any kind of indiscipline amongst its youth and supposed leaders of tomorrow is sitting on a time bomb much as it is basically throwing itself into a consuming fire that won’t relent until its whole system and reputation are utterly destroyed. As can be seen, moral decadence amongst the youth is a dreadful disease for any country as it leads to many criminal activities as well as constituting veritable barriers to the development of the country. While the continuous moral debility of youths  can be blamed on poor parenting as charity begins at home, the reality of a child derailing from the norm of a disciplined life is very ordinary in terms of peer pressure and media influence especially in this new age of internet and social media. Moreover, the way an individual is brought up, and sometimes the environment or situations people find themselves, influence them to acquire undisciplined behaviour and traits.

• The FUTO sex romp tragedy

The undeniable reality is that it is high time everyone took necessary initiatives to halt the thriving of this alarming phenomenon. Families need to commence strengthening ties among members as well as practising good manners and values that can be exemplary. More so, there  is  a  dire  need  to  re-orientate  the  entire  populace – parents  as  well  as  their  children, all  need  to  have  a  new  focus.  Religious  groups  too  have  the  social  responsibility  to  reinstate  faith  in  the  divine much as religious  clerics  must  through  personal  conduct,  rebuild  confidence  in  moral  uprightness. The school  system must  not  only  inculcate  discipline in the students and teachers through counselling,  morality must  be  built into the curriculum  for maximum  impact. The first thing to remember is that today’s youths are the future leaders and the artisans to build the nation tomorrow, and they could easily become a burden if they are affected by the moral decadence. Hence an urgent need to ensure that the right values are instilled in them as well as the inculcation of a peaceful and progressive life, free from moral infirmity, to bring about the social and economic development of the country. As such, all hands must be on deck as we reawaken the campaign on traditional cultural values orientation and the encouragement of positive attitudes and values with the view to revamping these youths and the society from moral epilepsy.

• Yakubu is with the Department of Mass Communication, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.