Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, has said that Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not a shortage of resources but a collapse in moral values, warning that the normalisation of corruption and dishonesty continues to hold the nation back from genuine progress.
In a post on his X handle on Saturday, the legal luminary noted that despite being richly endowed with human and natural resources, Nigeria remains plagued by poverty, insecurity, poor infrastructure and institutional decay.
While acknowledging the failings of leaders, governments and institutions, he insisted that Nigerians must also engage in honest self-reflection about what has become of the nation’s moral compass.
Okutepa lamented that across generations, many Nigerians—both young and old—have grown increasingly tolerant of corruption, nepotism, favouritism, fraud and the abuse of public trust, to the point where dishonest wealth is often celebrated rather than condemned.
He observed that individuals who manipulate the system to attain power are sometimes honoured, while those who insist on integrity are dismissed as naïve or punished for their principles, describing this as a dangerous trend for the country.
He argued that no nation can achieve lasting progress when corruption becomes normalised, when public office is treated as a tool for personal gain, and when loyalty to individuals supersedes loyalty to the nation.
According to him, Nigerians must shift their mindset from asking what the country can offer them to asking what they can contribute to the country.
The senior lawyer stressed that rebuilding Nigeria cannot be left solely to politicians, judges, civil servants, business leaders or religious figures, but requires collective responsibility—from parents instilling character in their children, to schools teaching integrity, religious institutions living out their teachings, and professionals upholding ethical standards.
He called for a shift in what society chooses to celebrate, advocating recognition for honest public servants, hardworking entrepreneurs, principled lawyers, courageous judges and disciplined citizens.
Okutepa’s remarks echoed sentiments expressed by other speakers at the 80th birthday celebration of Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, held on 24th September 2026 in Abuja, where Nigeria’s moral and ethical values came under scrutiny from various leaders.
He maintained that the country’s real need is a moral revolution rather than a change in leadership alone, insisting that Nigeria will only transform when its citizens change their values, not merely its laws.
Turning to the legal profession, Okutepa expressed concern that the noble calling of law is being undermined by partisan interests among some of its custodians, with disciplinary processes sometimes misused to target those pushing for reform.
He said the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has struggled to command public trust due to a perceived lack of integrity in how its affairs are managed.
He called on lawyers and the profession’s leadership to recover their conscience, restore independence, and prioritise the dignity of the profession over personal ambition and factional loyalty, stressing that only a legal profession with a strong moral compass can credibly champion justice for Nigerians seeking accountability from those in power.
