NAN-H-76
Africa
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Aug. 15, 2017 (NAN) The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, on Tuesday identified materialism and corruption as the basic attitudinal problems contributing to underdevelopment of Africa.
Ambali said this at the annual international conference of the Social Studies Association of Nigeria (SOSAN) in Ilorin.
The theme of the conference is: “Tackling problems of materialism and corruption in Africa continent”.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Sidikat Ijaya, Ambali said that the problems also affected both the high and the low in Africa and ate deep into the into the fabrics of Africa.
Ambali, who noted that corruption and materialism had become a culture among many Africans, urged that no stone should be left unturned to change peoples’ mindset about materialism and corruption in tackling the problems of Africa.
“The conference should suggest ways out to bring about change for the continent.
“Many Nigerians think it is when they are rich at the expense of others that that they will be seen to have arrived.
“Unfortunately, this brings about crimes, particularly among youths in form of kidnapping and all sorts.
‘’Our traditional leaders and intellectuals should come together and help solve theproblissue”, Ambali said.
Dr Olutoye Odeleye of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, said that the misconception of materialism as a way of life is rapidly gaining ground in Africa.
He spoke on “Reflection on African and western world practices and responses to materialism.”
Odeleye lamented that the misconception of materialism had promoted bribery and corruption in many sectors and destroyed many lives, societal, moral uprightness and educational standard of the society. (NAN)
OOH/AOM/DUA
Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Dada Ahmed