Ridwan Ishola Mogaji

Background: Cyberspace is understood in this paper as a place for possible moral and immoral conducts, just as it is the case with physical societies across the world. However, the Nigerian cyberspace has, in recent times, experienced increase in moral decadence, with young people engaging in acts of vices, including disrespect, fraud, and phishing among other cybercrimes. This set of behaviours negates the values expected of a well-ordered and well-meaning cyberspace, all of which threaten physical societal cohesion and ethical standards. Aims: This paper examines Omolúàbí ethos, a traditional embodiment of moral principle of the Yoruba people, as a remedial framework. The Omolúàbí ethos places virtues such as good character, respectful conduct, gentleness, honesty, trust, humanness, among others, as a necessity for building a responsible society, even in the cyberspace. Methodology: Being philosophical research, the paper adopts qualitative method to unpack the relevance of ancient Yoruba proverbs and ethical practices to contemporary online engagement. Findings: The paper argues that if the Omolúàbí ethos is imbued into cyberspace culture, through the medium of philosophical counseling in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, it could help ensure a more suitable online environment where respect, dignity, and virtue are paramount. Conclusion: This paper contributes to scholarship by positioning an indigenous ethical framework for addressing contemporary cyberspace’s ethical challenges.

This paper explores the nature of African religion and the role of the role of Western misconception in influencing it. Historically, African religion has served as a yardstick of the values, principles, and philosophies that shape the daily lives and ethical frameworks guiding the African societies. It embodies a unique belief system, a reverence for a Supreme Being, and a deep connection to community and nature, among many others. However, the advent of Western institutional religion significantly altered this dynamic. Western thought systems often dismissed African religious practices as fetishistic, primitive, and inhumane among many other negative attributes, thereby marginalizing their religious practices and replacing them with Western Christian practices. Hence, this influence has as a result alienated and marginalizing the African people from their indigenous religion, which as well alters their Identity. Ironically, these Western practices promoted values and principles similar to those inherent in African philosophy but classified superior, so as to strip the Africans of their identity for easy control. In it on this note that this seminar paper critically examines these narratives, highlighting the authenticity, richness, and sanctity of African religion. With the intension of exposing the original nature of African religion, employing the method of conceptual and critical analysis, this seminar paper argues that African religion, far from being fetishistic embodies the totality of the reality of the African people; it is a sophisticated embodiment of moral principles, belief systems, spirituality, and a deep connection to the world.