Values and Ethics Education as A Panacea to Conflict and Crises in Nigerian Urban Communities

Abstract

Conflict and crises have become an endemic problem in Nigeria. Government has always adopted the military option of Joint Task Force (JTF) to quell the crises. However, the failure and limitations of the JTF option as response to conflict and crises management in Nigerian calls attention to desirability of a change in strategy to achieve permanent and sustainable peace in Nigerian urban communities. This desirability for change in approach is based on the fact that sustainable peace correlates with development. In the old African society, values and ethics education were the major instrument for evolving a peaceful society. Through this medium, the traditional African society was able to evolve a system of co-existence in which everyone has concern for the welfare of every other person and was able to establish a conflict and crisis free society. It is based on this strength of traditional education that emphasised ethics and values to achieve a peaceful society that this paper discusses values and ethics education as a panacea to constant conflict and crises in Nigerian urban communities.