PHILOSOPHICAL EVALUATION OF MORAL VALUES IN THE CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN STATE

Abstract

The contemporary moral values in Nigerian public places may be said to have their foundations in the Christian Missionary enterprise of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Previous studies on the Christian Missionary activities in that era have significantly underscored the enormous contributions of these bodies in the educational, cultural, economic and political spheres of the nations. Attempts have been made in some quarters as well to examine the moral values installed by the missionary bodies in this era. However, little has been said regarding the implications of the moral values in the Christian Missionary Educational System in the contemporary Nigerian State. As such, this paper poses to conduct a philosophical evaluation of moral values in the Christian Missionary Educational System and its Implications for the Contemporary Nigerian State. The paper is situated in Durkheim‘s Functional theory of religion. The research methodology is analytical and archival search methods. This Chapter shows that moral values instituted by the early missionaries, especially in their established mission schools were germane to the foundation and development of the Nigerian Societies. It viewed the philosophy of those moral values are humane, selfless and development-inclined. This chapter recommends the re-introduction and reinstitutions of the moral values in various strata of Nigerian Societies.