EROSION OF VALUES UNDERMINING YOUTHS’ LEADERSHIP READINESS — EX-LAWMAKER

Former House of Representatives member Sam Onuigbo has said the decline in societal values is weakening efforts to prepare Nigerian youths for leadership.

Speaking on NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria on Friday, Onuigbo called for deliberate mentorship, stronger parental guidance and renewed attention to ethical behaviour.

Discussing the theme, “Mentorship: Nigeria Happened to Me,” he said young people needed a solid foundation of values to become responsible leaders.

He identified the weakening of family guidance as part of the problem, saying some parents struggled to help their children distinguish right from wrong. This, he explained, could leave young people more vulnerable to peer pressure.

Onuigbo stressed that good character helps people remain focused and make responsible decisions, even under difficult circumstances.

Reflecting on his upbringing, he said his parents, who were peasant farmers, taught him and his siblings to respect other people’s property.

He recalled how traders in his community would leave groundnuts unattended, trusting customers to take what they needed and leave the correct payment. According to him, the traders often returned to find their money intact.

He described that practice as a reflection of honesty, transparency, hard work and good neighbourliness.

Onuigbo urged greater attention to passing these values to younger generations, alongside the guidance and mentorship needed to prepare them for leadership.