THE NEXUS OF PHILOSOPHY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIENCE

Résumé

Nigeria is bedevilled by the problem of ineffective leadership and this has resulted in political irresponsibility, looting of national treasury, godfatherism, tribal sentiment, terror and terrorism, bribery and corruption, elitist regime, social vices and other kleptocratic practices. Philosophy plays a critical role in galvanizing any country’s quest for national development. Philosophy serves as a catalyst to national development. Philosophy has moral implications for advancing any country’s quest for national development. Philosophy as an academic discipline is critical and it has a broader spectrum in addressing the socio-political, educational and economic challenges of a country. National development reflects aims at human improvement. This paper adopts the analytical framework and the hermeneutical methodology in discussing the nexus of philosophy and national development; and its implications for Nigeria. National development is fundamental in measuring the indices of good governance in a country. Findings, however, show that philosophy is instrumental and it serves as a vital force in ensuring national development and an ideological direction for a country. Nigerian political leadership must be backed by the instrumentality of philosophic contemplation. This paper concludes that philosophy and national development are necessary ingredients for human improvement. This paper recommends that Nigeria should holistically address its national development strategy to pave the way for human capital development. Nigeria as a country should ensure effective national security policy that could galvanize national development. Nigerian political leadership should ensure even distribution of natural and human resources in order to guarantee equality of opportunity of Nigerians.