AN ETHICAL EVALUATION OF PARENTING AND FAMILY VALUES AS FOUNDATIONS FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
National Development, Media and Technology, Political Stability, Family Units, InstitutionsAbstract
National development can best be understood as a broad and multifaceted process encompassing political stability, social advancement, economic expansion, and cultural growth. While governments, institutions, and public infrastructure play vital roles, the foundational influence of the family, particularly parenting and the transmission of core values cannot be overstated. Employing analytical and conversational methods, this study shows that family is the primary social environment in which individuals are formed, supported, socialized, and instilled with values that shape their character and behavior. It is in the light of the quest to lay the foundation for sustainable national development that a viable and pragmatic theoretical framework is pertinent. The study reveals that the harmful effects of media and technology, along with the weakening of family structures reflected in rising levels of divorce, separation, and unsupported single parenting undermines household stability and hinder the consistent transmission of values within the home. It is therefore the submission of this essay that a renewed commitment to responsible parenting and strong family values of which if properly strengthened could substantially reduce societal challenges such as corruption, violence, and moral decline-problems that undermine sustainable national development.
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