In a bid to promote good governance and national development, Nigerian leaders have been urged to uphold ethical principles. Prof. Temidayo Ogundiran, Academic Director of the Centre for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, made this appeal during a training on responsible conduct of research.
He emphasized that ethics is crucial in promoting fairness, integrity, leadership, accountability, and responsibility, all of which are vital for building a great nation.
Ogundiran stressed that teaching ethics as a subject from primary school to university level would help cultivate the right attitudes and promote ethical knowledge among Nigerians. This call was echoed by Prof. Christopher Agulanna, Head of Department, Bioethics and Medical Humanities, University of Ibadan, who noted that ethics is the bedrock of a flourishing society.
Agulanna explained that researchers must conduct their work with integrity, responsibility, and transparency to maintain the credibility of their research. He also advocated for the teaching of ethics from primary to university levels, as is done abroad, to instill the right attitudes in individuals from a young age.
In his remarks, the Director explained, “Ethics talks about what is good and bad, what is right and wrong, it promotes principles such as fairness, integrity, leadership, accountability, responsibility and virtues that help cultivate the right attitudes and build a virile and great nation.
“To all Nigerians and especially, our leaders across political divides must imbibe ethical principles of fairness, integrity, truth, accountability, and responsibility because they all can impact our decision-making and practices that can help to build a working and great nation “
The training, organized for 30 scholars from across Nigeria, aimed to promote research ethics and integrity among researchers. Mr. Olusegun Adeyemo, Manager of the Centre, emphasized the importance of considering the impact of one’s actions on others and striving to produce outcomes that benefit all.
In essence, experts agree that ethical leadership is essential for good governance and national development. By upholding ethical principles, leaders can promote fairness, integrity, and accountability, ultimately building a better Nigeria for all.