Africa must rebuild its moral foundation to overcome its development challenges, according to Professor Solomon Akinyemi Laleye, a distinguished scholar of philosophy at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA).
Delivering the university’s 41st Inaugural Lecture titled “The Ethics of Complementarity and the Third Face of the Coin: An Indispensable Route to Integral Human Development”, Prof. Laleye argued that the erosion of moral infrastructure in families, schools, and institutions has crippled the continent’s progress.
“Africa’s pathway to integral human development is inextricably tied to the revival of its moral infrastructure,” he said.
Family, School, Government Must Share Ethical Burden
Prof. Laleye highlighted the family as the first moral institution, stressing the importance of early value formation in children. “At the formative stage, a child’s mind is a Tabula Rasa—a blank slate. Parents must imprint honesty, empathy, and responsibility,” he urged.
He further called for a moral overhaul of the education system, advocating for ethics to be embedded in school curricula alongside academic content. “Education must produce not only critical thinkers but morally conscious citizens,” he noted.
Governance, too, must be driven by justice and ethical accountability, he asserted, urging institutions to function as custodians of public trust. “Justice must be impartial. Ethical violations must be addressed decisively and fairly.”
Third Face of the Coin: Rethinking Progress Beyond Binary Thinking
Central to Prof. Laleye’s lecture was the concept of the “third face of the coin”—a metaphor for transcending binary logic and embracing holistic, inclusive thinking.
He warned against the unchecked pursuit of innovation without moral guidance, drawing on the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus. “Without ethical grounding, creativity becomes dangerous. True development must be a balance of wisdom and innovation,” he said.
African Values Hold the Key to Sustainable Growth
Reflecting on traditional African societies, Prof. Laleye lamented the abandonment of duty ethics, which once promoted communal responsibility, care for the vulnerable, and respect for elders.
“The shift from communal duty to individualistic rights has fractured social harmony,” he said.
He advocated for a return to cultural philosophies such as Ubuntu and Omolúàbí, calling them critical to restoring Africa’s ethical compass. Practical steps include ethics education, inter-generational dialogue, community service, and leadership by example.
Vice Chancellor Commends Scholarly Excellence
In his opening remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Olugbenga Ige praised Prof. Laleye’s academic contributions and intellectual depth.
“We honour a respected academic whose work exemplifies integrity, critical insight, and deep commitment to societal advancement,” said Prof. Ige.
Conclusion: Ethics as the Bedrock of Development
Prof. Laleye concluded with a strong message: technological and economic progress without a moral compass is unsustainable. “Development must be ethically grounded. Only then can Africa achieve true human flourishing.”
