Social vices and negative

conduct in Nigeria:
Aetiologies and prophylaxes

Presenter: Dr. David Imhonopi

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Introduction
O Every society has had to contend with certain
dysfunctions as expressed by anti-social elements
within it.
O Laws or some forms of social control are put in
place to tame such vices or negative conducts.
O Nigeria is not immune from social vices and
negative conducts of some of its citizens.
O Boko Haram insurgency has become, for instance,
an earth-shaking, terror-plaguing and bloodletting
saga threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence.

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 Introduction (Cont’d)
O Although different, social vices and negative
conducts are both negative and could be
harmful to victims or others.
O In this lecture, social vices and negative
conducts have been conceptualised.
O Aetiologies and prophylaxes of selected
social vices and negative conducts have been
identified.
O Recommendations have also been made.

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 Definition of Social Vices
O A vice is an immoral or wicked behaviour
that is unacceptable to a large segment of a
society.
O It describes the weakness of character or
behaviour of an individual that leads him or
her to hurt himself or others.
O Social vices are forms of evil, wicked and
criminal actions or behaviours in the society.

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 Definition of Social Vices
O Social vice are social problems. They violate
societal norms and values. They affect society’s
peace of mind and pose a threat to the well-
being, survival, continuity, health and prosperity
of a society.
O They create intense worries and demand the
attention and intervention of leadership and
society.
O Examples of social vices are corruption,
prostitution, examination malpractices,
kidnapping and cultism, among others.
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 Definition of Negative Conduct
O Conduct refers to the behaviour, attitude or
traits that people exhibit.
O It could be positive or negative.
O Negative conduct refers to behaviour that is
unacceptable to members of a society but
may not violate extant statutes.
O Social misconduct has been variously
categorised as vice by philosophers, sin by
priests, crime by policemen, and disease by
psychiatrists (Lothane, 2014).
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 Definition of Negative Conduct
O Not all negative conducts that individuals express
are criminal in nature e.g. absenteeism in school or
at work, negligence to duty, indiscipline, smoking,
drunkenness, insubordination, breaking of rules,
lack of respect to constituted authority, illegal drug
use, indecent dressing, gambling, abusive
language, bullying, among others.
O They become criminal actions when there are laws
forbidding them.

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 Social Vices and Negative Conduct-
The Link
O While social vices attract grave
consequences, negative conducts attract
mild punishments.
O However, negative conducts are
negative behaviours that can translate
into social vices if not curtailed.

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 Aetiologies of Cultism in Nigeria – 1a
Cultism in Nigeria
OCultism includes the activities of secret cults or
societies or fraternities that became very rampant in
Nigerian tertiary institutions.
OCult groups have become a Frankenstein monsters to
Nigerian students, youths and to the society at large.
OConceived as pressure groups to monitor and defend
the interests of students (Issa, 2010), today cult groups
have become largely destructive agencies.

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 Aetiologies of Cultism in Nigeria – 1b
Causes of cultism in Nigeria are as follows:
OInfluence of peer group
OPoor parenting
OSocietal decadence
OErosion of education standards
OMilitarisation of the Nigerian polity
OJuvenile delinquency
OPoverty
OGangsterism
OThe challenged economic situation in the country

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Prophylaxes of Cultism in Nigeria – 1c
Solutions to cultism in Nigeria
OEducation and enlightenment on the dangers and
self-destructive nature of violent cult activities
OEffective legal regime that dispenses justice fairly
but promptly including the punishment of offenders
OCreation of modern correction centres to
rehabilitate cult members
OResponsive and responsible governance that invests
in education and provides effective oversight
functions

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Prophylaxes of Cultism in Nigeria – 1c
O Beefing up of security in the society to
forestall the breakdown of law and order
O Responsible and exemplary parenting
O Promotion of good social values on the
society
O Punishment of politicians who recruit cult
members as their goons to kill or maim
opponents

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Aetiologies of Prostitution in Nigeria – 2a
Prostitution in Nigeria
OProstitution is the act of engaging in sexual
intercourse in exchange for money or offering
another person for such purposes.
OIt is the performance of sexual acts solely for the
purpose of material gain (Imhonopi & Urim, 2012).
OPersons prostitute themselves when they grant
sexual favours to others in exchange for money,
gifts, or other payment and in so doing use their
bodies as commodities.

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Aetiologies of Prostitution in Nigeria – 2a
O Prostitutes may be either sex.
O Men have traditionally been
characterised as procurers (pimps) and
customers, but they are increasingly
being identified as prostitutes.

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Aetiologies of Prostitution in Nigeria – 2b
The causes of this social vice are as follows:
OLack of education or literacy
OChild trafficking
OPoverty
OUnemployment
OSocial stigmatisation e.g. social outcasts
OWar and extreme conditions

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Prophylaxes of Prostitution in Nigeria – 2c
These include:
OEducation and literacy
OTeaching victims job and economically viable
skills
OCreation of employment for victims and
women in the society
OLegal prohibition and punishment of
offenders, sponsors and pimps

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Aetiologies of Examination Malpractices – 3a
Examination Malpractices in Nigeria
OExamination malpractices are practices that
fall below the required standards acceptable for
passing examinations.
OThey involve the use of external materials,
the use of “mercenaries” or impostors and
other malpractices that help a student or
students to pass their examinations.

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Aetiologies of Examination Malpractices – 3b
Causes could include:
OLaziness of students
OLack of study
OTruancy of students
ONegative parental influence
OFallen social morals and values
OFallen standards of education
OCorrupt teachers and education officials

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Prophylaxes of Examination Malpractices – 3c
These include:
OPromotion of morality and values in the
society and educational institutions
OMeritocracy
OParental guidance and example
OHard work and personal responsibility
OReforms in educational institutions

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 Aetiologies of Teenage Pregnancy– 4a
O Teenage pregnancy is the situation when a
teenager or a girl of school age and outside
the marriageable age becomes pregnant for a
fellow teenager or a male companion.
O Most times, the male companion or boy
friend denies this pregnancy leaving the girl
and/or her parents with no option but to abort
or raise the child by herself or with the
support of her parents or guardians
(Imhonopi & Urim, 2012).
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 Aetiologies of Teenage Pregnancy– 4b
Among others, these include:
OIndiscriminate and early sexual escapades by
young girls of school ages
OWrong influence and peer pressure
OWrong exposure to early and unguided
relationships
OPoor parenting
OSingle parent situation

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 Prophylaxes of Teenage Pregnancy– 4c
Solutions to addressing the rise of teenage pregnancy in
Nigeria could include:
OEducation and enlightenment campaigns to girls on the
dangers of early active sexual life and the evil of wrong
influence
OEarly sex education
OGreater parental responsibility
OSchools should take more interest in the affairs of their
students
OThe role of religious institutions cannot be downplayed
OThe role of legal institutions should be robust
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 Aetiologies of Armed Robbery– 5a
O Armed robbery is a criminal act that involves the
use of dangerous weapons to dispossess innocent
citizens of their legitimately acquired possessions.
O It is a serious social vice consisting of the unlawful
taking, by means of violence or intimidation, of
property in the possession or in the immediate
presence or control of another.
O In some countries, armed robbery is punishable by
death or by elongated jail term.

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 Aetiologies of Armed Robbery– 5b
These include:
OLack of education or literacy
OIndividual frustration
OUnemployment
OBad company or peer influence
OGet-rich-quick syndrome

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 Aetiologies of Armed Robbery– 5c
Among other factors, these include:
OEducation
OMoral education and suasion by religious
leaders and institutions
OAdequate, uncompromising and effective
security policy, measures and methodologies
OParental responsibility
OAdequate punishment of offenders
OJob creation schemes
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 Not Exhaustive???
O Obviously, the points raised as
aetiologies of social vices in Nigeria or
their prophylaxes are not exhaustive.
O They are to jog your memory, ignite
your imagination and point to the
critical issues which are triggers of
vices mentioned and probable solutions
to these social malaises.
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 Recommendations
To address social vices in Nigeria, there is need to
OProvide adequate and prompt security for citizens.
OProvide responsible and responsive political
leadership.
OStrengthen the existing legal regime in the country.
OPromote moral and ethical education across the
school system.
OProvide religious and civic education to citizens from
primary school upwards.

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 Recommendations
O Construct correction and rehabilitation
centres.
O Create more youth and citizen employment
windows.
O Promote human rights in the society.
O Provide exemplary political leadership.
O Teach/nudge parents to show more interest
and responsibility in the upbringing of their
children and wards.
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 Conclusion
O Social vices and negative conducts share
some commonalties: they are negative and
they can hurt other people or lead to self-
destruction of the perpetrators.
O While some provide sophistic analyses to
justify the perpetration of some social vices
like rape, armed robbery and prostitution, the
fact remains that justifying social vices is
deepening the wounds of society and
destroying its fabrics.
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 Conclusion
O Government must live up to its
responsibilities by strengthening the legal
regime and empowering the security agencies
to do their job without let or hindrance, fear
or favour.
O Everyone must be committed to promoting
human rights in the society because when
negative conducts and social vices are not
checked, society may gradually be walking
on the precipice of its own extinction.
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THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING

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