The importance of education can’t be overemphasized. Education equips us with knowledge of the world and changes it into something better. It develops in us a better perspective of life. It helps us build good opinions and have points of view on things in life.
Education is an important tool that can kill corruption in Nigeria. Fighting corruption is not about jailing some selected few in the country but conscious steps to end it through effective tools.
Corruption is defined as lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain.
Corruption is endemic in Nigeria, and this is because we haven’t used an effective tool that can fight it to finish.
The usual approach in Nigeria is to arrest corrupt persons. And often, people celebrate whenever they hear news of this kind, i.e., people being arrested for corruption or money stolen being recovered. This is commendable but can’t provide a lasting kill corruption in Nigeria.
Corruption is of the mind, which was attested to by a statement by the former president of Nigeria during an interview that corruption is a behavioral pattern. The only effective tool for correcting a behavioral pattern is education. One of the reasons why education can perform this role is because it teaches and enlightens the mind.
The mind of every citizen in this country needs to be taught at every stage of our educational system that honesty and integrity are important ingredients for a successful and fulfilling life.
Types of corruption in Nigeria
Below are the most prevalent types of corruption in Nigeria:
- Bribery
- Theft and privatization of public resources and funds
- Forgery and falsification,
- Misappropriation of money
- Abuse of state funds
- Nepotism and Favoritism
- Promotion of personal interests
- Protection and covering up events.
- Abuse of power
- Manipulation of regulation
- Electoral violations
- Extortion
- Transfer of gifts to influence the content of the policy
Importance of Education in Fighting Corruption in Nigeria
Education gives a better perspective: One major thing education does is give a better perspective on life. A good perspective of life will make one live above corruption, which can only be achieved if the government sees education as a tool to fight corruption.
Education enlightens the mind: An enlightened mind will have no fear of tomorrow. One of the major reasons why corruption is prevalent is fear of the unknown. A person who uses his position for dishonest gain has a faulty thought pattern, and the thought is usually like this: “Let me quickly use this position to enrich myself because if I don’t do it now, I may remain poor”. This kind of mind is shortsighted and thinks the only way out of poverty is to use his position for dishonest gain.
Education informs/teaches the mind: John F Kennedy says, “A child miseducated is a child lost.” Proper education will enable a child to understand that he doesn’t need to get involved in any corruption named above to reach his life destination. He would have developed a mind to ask the WHY one of his actions. For example, why should I take a bribe, favor nepotism against merit, or misappropriate public funds and get the nation into a long-term mess? These are moral questions that the mind will be bombarded with if it is properly educated.
Furthermore, how would one know he can live within his income without taking a bribe if he hadn’t been taught financial discipline at every stage? Financial education teaches one how to save, invest, deal with impulse spending, etc.
Related Article: History of secondary education and its objectives in Nigeria
