Responsible cyberspace engagement: Towards Omolúàbí ethos for Nigerian youth

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