Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubrin Okutepa, has expressed deep concern over what he described as a widespread decline in moral, educational, professional, and governance standards in Nigeria.
In a detailed statement, Okutepa lamented that the country is currently experiencing a systemic breakdown in values across all sectors, including governance, education, the legal profession, healthcare, and the political system. He argued that the foundations for these challenges were laid years ago through repeated compromises on integrity, accountability, and national interest.
He criticised what he described as a growing culture of corruption and self-interest, saying Nigeria has “been planning to fail” by tolerating compromised leadership and unethical practices in both public and private life.
According to him, moral decay is evident in multiple sectors, including education, where he referenced examination malpractice and alleged misconduct in academic institutions. He also raised concerns about professionalism in key fields such as law and medicine, claiming that financial incentives have increasingly overshadowed ethics and public service values.
Okutepa further noted that the political class has contributed significantly to governance failures, stating that leadership is often disconnected from the needs of ordinary citizens. He added that trust in institutions has weakened, resulting in what he described as a “state of hopeless expectations” among Nigerians.
Despite his criticism, he called for a national reset, urging a return to core values such as integrity, discipline, and merit-based leadership. He also advocated for stronger national unity, stressing the need for Nigerians to prioritize national identity over ethnic and religious divisions.
Okutepa concluded by calling for renewed moral education, responsible leadership selection, and a collective effort to rebuild the country’s ethical foundation for future generations.
