IGBO CULTURAL VALUES: IMPERATIVE FOR HUMAN SECURITY

Abstract

The paramount responsibility of the leaders of any race is the protection of lives of their people. Life is precious and sacred and as such, all round structures need to be put in place to provide human security. It is unfortunate and disheartening that some humans endanger the lives of their fellow humans, while some leaders, either because of negligence or inaptitude fail to put in place those policies that provide human security. The Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria being aware of the sanctity and essence of life, entrenched in their culture, those values and practices that are capable of guaranteeing human security and peaceful co-existence. This paper therefore is aimed at highlighting the essence of those Igbo cultural values that promote human security with a view to sustaining and preserving them for the upcoming generations. The research framework, human security theory was formulated to direct the research effort in the areas of Igbo taboo system, Igbo covenant, Igbo vigilante, cola-nut presentation, Igbo medicine, Igbo apprenticeship and Igbo marriage procedure, as veritable avenues of providing human security in Igbo culture. This paper established that the aforementioned aspects of Igbo culture promote human security, and therefore recommends, among others, that those cultural values should be sustained and given adequate projection in Africa.