ABSTRACT

This article aims to demonstrate that, in a country like Nigeria, the first step toward progress is the total development of the citizen, who is intended to act as a catalyst for change and transformation; the moral development of the citizen represents the gateway to the nation's progress. The purpose of this research is to achieve its objectives by applying the critical analysis method. One possible explanation for Nigeria's increasing social vice rate is the erosion of moral standards. Nigeria's progress as a country is hampered by the current environment, where crime and corruption are pervasive in most people's everyday lives. The results show that democratic institutions are essential for the development of morality and that democracy fosters development. This research makes the case that social vices that endure over time would go unchecked if people's ethical development were not given enough attention.