VALUES

MEANING

Values can be defined as those standards or principles considered to be valuable and desirable. These principles and standards determine what we like or dislike, and enable us to differentiate between what is right or wrong. Values also means important lasting beliefs or ideas shared by people about what is good or bad, desirable, acceptable or unacceptable. Also, values refers to those ideas and standards which the society esteems and upholds and will like to pass from one generation to another.

Values are an integral part of every society. They are related to the norms of a culture. Norms are rules for behaviours in specific situations, while values identify what should be judged as good or bad.

Different cultures reflect different values but every society has values. In life, we are faced with situations that require us to make a choice between alternatives. In such situations, if we choose option ‘A’, we forgo option ‘B’ and vice versa, it is values that enable us to choose between alternatives.

 TYPES OF VALUES

There are many types of values, some of them include:

1)    a. Positive values: These are qualities that are good, acceptable, desirable and useful. Some of these values are honesty, humility, transparency, gratitude etc.

2)    b. Negative values: These refers to those qualities that are bad, harmful, undesirable, and unacceptable. These values have harmful influence in the society and prevent growth and development. E.g. Improper dressing, dishonesty, sagging, lying, embezzlement etc.

3)    c. General/universal values: These are common norms and traits which society views as good and acceptable. E.g. honesty, justice, liberty, equality, tolerance etc.

4) d. Personal values: These refer to values considered right and suitable by individuals in society. It is an individual interpretation of general values.

5)  e. Spiritual values: These values touch on the relationship of man with God. It refers to faith and believe in God as well as obedience to the divine laws of God.

6)  f.  Material values: These are values that are related to basic human needs (food, clothing and shelter), needed for man’s survival.

Importance of values

 Values help to determine and control the behaviour of individuals in the society.

They act as criteria or measures for the judgment of the actions of individuals in the society.

Values give focus and direction to individuals in the family and society at large.

 

Values modify our attitudes and feelings towards other people through tolerance of different opinions and behaviour.

Values guide people toward the achievement of declared objectives e.g. individual, family, communal, corporate and national objectives among others.

Values promote unity, harmony and cooperation in the society.

 Values encourage sense of responsibility and hard work among Nigerian citizens.

Values help youths to resist negative peer pressure in the society.

Values help us to develop respect for other people’s ways of life e.g. different ethnic and religious groups and so on.

Values promote self-reliance in the society, thus creating employment opportunities for citizens.

Values ultimately promote development in the society.

Values lead to actions which promote happiness and contentment in society. 

JUSTICE AND SELFLESSNESS

Justice is the quality of being fair and reasonable to people and situations. A just man is a man who exercises fairness and reasonableness in his handling of people and issues. Whenever and wherever a just man is in position of authority, people are confident that there will be no discriminatory treatment and that all parties to a matter will go home satisfied that they have been fairly treated.

Factors that promote Justice

1)    Equity: Equity is the quality of being fair and impartial in the way people are treated. By treating people fair and impartial, they go home satisfied that they have received a human and humane treatment. Due to such satisfactory treatment, complaints, quarrels and worries are avoided.

2)    Fair Play: Fair play is doing things according to laid down rules and regulations. This will lead to equal treatment of people in the society.

Selflessness

Selflessness is the quality which makes one to consider the needs and wishes of others first before self.  It also means sacrificing one’s own interest for the greater good. A selfless person is ever ready to die for his family, community or society so that it might be well with others. Without the value of selflessness, it is impossible to have groups such as the Army, Para-military, teachers, nurses, social welfare workers, journalists, religious leaders, Red Cross etc.

Factors that promote selflessness

1)    Sacrifice: Sacrifice is the value that enables us to give up something important or of great value for the sake of another person, group or purpose. It is the value that makes us to bear some pain for the sake of another person or group.

2)    Public spiritedness: This means having or showing an unselfish, active interest in public welfare for the good of the community. A public spirited citizen is unselfish, sacrificial, generous, philanthropic etc. there are many things one can do to show that one is public spirited;

i)                   Offering free teaching services,

ii)                Rendering free medical services,

iii)              Filling of potholes on the roads without asking for payment,

iv)              Helping the poor especially those we do not know,

v)                Helping the physically challenged, especially those we do not know,

vi)              Helping accident victims, especially those we do not know.

 

OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND ONESELF

Opportunity to defend oneself is a value of modern societies and a major ingredient of justice. It is a constitutional issue in all democratic societies. The Nigeria’s constitution of 1999 provides every citizen with the right to defend oneself. It is called ‘right to fair hearing’ in section 36 of the constitution. It states that ‘a person shall be entitled to fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal established by law.  As a matter of fact, right to fair hearing is one of the fundamental rights that Nigerians enjoy.

Avenues for self-defence

1)    The Court: The court is an institution that is presided over by a law officer, which adjudicates in dispute between persons and groups. Its major function is to grant fair hearing to people and groups in disputes, it never fail to allow an accused person the opportunity to defend him/herself.

2)    Tribunals: A tribunal is a special type of court set up to handle a particular problem or situation. As a special court, a tribunal affords persons and groups the opportunity to defend themselves before pronouncing verdict.

3)    Disciplinary Committee: Many formal organisations have disciplinary committees that look into matters brought against an employee. Such committee as a rule, never make recommendations to management on a matter without hearing from the accused person. This gives the accused person the opportunity to defend self.

4)    Traditional Rulers: The palace of traditional rulers in Nigeria is a court of sort. Aggrieved persons bring their cases to the palace and the traditional ruler, sitting in council, hears such cases. Accused persons are usually invited to the palace and given fair hearing before ruling is given.