NIGERIA’S MULTI-MORAL LEADERSHIP CRISIS: IMMANUEL KANT’S ‘DUTY SAKE’ TO THE RESCUE
NkutJesus Pius Ekpoudom 1 & Remigius A. Obah 2
Department of Philosophy, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria 1 & 2
Corresponding Email: nkutjesuse@gmail.com 1
Abstract
This study examines Immanuel Kant’s ‘duty for duty’s sake’ in relation to Nigeria’s persistent leadership and governance crises. Kantian ethics, particularly the concept of goodwill, asserts that moral worth is derived from duty rather than personal gain or external consequences. Goodwill, as the only intrinsically good principle, serves as the foundation of ethical leadership and public responsibility. Given Nigeria’s deep-seated governance challenges ranging from corruption and political impunity to weak institutional frameworks, this research explores how Kant’s moral framework can provide an ethical foundation for leadership and governance reforms. Using a qualitative, analytical approach, the study engages Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals alongside contemporary literature on ethical leadership and governance. The analysis highlights the categorical imperative as a model for leadership accountability, emphasizing justice, integrity, and the primacy of moral duty in public service. Findings reveal that Kant’s deontological ethics offers a transformative framework for addressing Nigeria’s leadership failures by reinforcing institutional integrity, legal enforcement, and moral responsibility. The study concludes that incorporating Kantian moral principles into Nigeria’s leadership training and policy frameworks could foster ethical governance, curb corruption, and instill a sense of duty-bound responsibility. By advocating for goodwill as a core ethical standard, this research contributes to the broader discourse on leadership and moral rectitude in Nigeria.
Keywords: Kantian Ethics, Moral Leadership, Governance, Duty, Corruption.
