Tradition/ Cultural Method: What Paths Within Nigeria Traditional and Cultural Methods Can Rescue/Preserve Environmental Issues in Nigeria

Traditional knowledge and customs are those beliefs, stories, aesthetics, and ways of a people that are part of cultural norm, that is passed from person to person or generation to generation. Nigeria as a country is blessed with a serene environment inhabited with a lot of good people from different ethnicities and cultural background. Yet, despite Nigeria’s good environment, encounters challenges in preserving the environment.

Different modern concepts had been introduced with the aim of preserving and protecting our land, but these modern concepts need a helping hand to reinforce its effort. What is this helping hand? Nigeria must take positive steps, not only as consumers but as custodians of our land.

As the topic indicates, our tradition and culture can be the helping hand to modern concepts in preserving our communities. Tradition and culture which have been losing its value amongst Nigerians over the years all in the name of “civilization” should regain its integrity. If China for example could incorporate their tradition, culture and some other techniques into building their economy then Nigeria also can copy that from them.

Modern techniques like internet, hospital facilities, trackers, medicines for sound health etc. can be reinforce with Nigeria traditional and cultural methods in resolving and preserving our environment.

Nigeria environmental issues by which traditional and cultural methods can improve and resolve everyday environmental problems are:

·      Source of problem: Our tradition/culture can be of help to find where the problem we are facing come from, it can allow our government to find out where they have got it all wrong and which also helps in finding solution/s to it/them. Yoruba indigenous religion (Ifa religion) for example can be employed by the government to find a solution to a problem through what is known as Ifa divination. Ifa divination is a system whereby an Ifa priest (diviner) consults the Oracle through his divination materials in other to find a solution to a problem that a person, state or country at large is facing. In this wise Ifa divination alongside modern techniques can work hand in hand to fight Nigeria major “virus” which is Corruption. It can also be adopted with the modern techniques to find a solution to the current economy recession in Nigeria.

·      Health Matters: Our tradition is so much rich that we are blessed by God with various herbs and plants for man use. These which our ancestors made use in saving lives, finding solution to any form of illness that happen in the environment, but unfortunately, our environment of today barely recognize this method as they believe more on the modern medicine for use. It is no doubt that these modern medicines do work but also our own traditional way should be given a chance. I have seen a situation whereby modern medicine failed to cure a sick victim but with the use of traditional medicine he was cured. If these traditional ways could work for our ancestors then it can also work for us. Therefore, our medical practice of today should use traditional medicine to alternate the modern ones to have a freer sickness, diseases and secured environment.

·      Disaster Presentation/Security threat: The trending security threat in Nigeria is the non-natural form where murdering, kidnappings, corruption, raping, money ritual, conspiracy and terrorism to mention some in our environment. These indeed have been a major blow in the face of our government as the situation continues to be a rampant scenario day by day. it is no doubt that the government are finding solutions to these, the invention of several institutions saddled with the responsibility of making sure these filthy acts come to an end is indeed a great movement by the government yet this continues. There are wisdoms and ways applied by our ancestors back in their days to fight this kind of scenario, these ways are the traditional ways. As suggested above Ifa divination can be used to help these kinds of matters as to know the source of problem maybe it is physical or spiritual. By doing this, boost in the use of modern techniques like tracker devices and some others will surely take place. This I suggest the government should recognize and cultivate to reinforce the modern techniques to sustain a favorable environment for us all.

·      Education boost: Traditional, cultural methods can be used to boost western education in the lives of our children as it allows them to know more about their backgrounds, their local dialects. Primary Schools across Nigeria today have failed to recognize our local dialects as a must subject in its subjects this also happens in some homes as some parents prefer their children to speak the foreign language to the local. This in the future later affects the children in the environment one way or the other. Our tradition and culture should be recognized in schools and at homes so as not only to boost the educational system but also to enlighten our children about their tradition and cultural heritage.

·      Decision/policy maker: Finally, our tradition and culture can play a significant role in the administration of a town or state. Traditional and cultural method were used by our ancestors to arrive at the final authority on policy/decision making. The Oba (King) and the council of Chiefs for example always resort to Ifa divination in a situation where there is a deadlock or conflict of opinion/interest. Ifa is divined as the final authority in order to decide which opinion or way to be endorsed. Our Nigeria of today are suffering from the lack of good governance, this is due to the wrong choice in selecting the right candidate for the task. Tradition helped our ancestors then, in selecting the right person to rule them. A body of council is formed to choose the right man to rule them with the help of Ifa divination this today we do not do anymore and that is why we are not getting the right candidate to rule. Imagine if only Ifa divination and other modern processes were made, we would have been living in an environment of more comfort.

However, it could be stressed that by using 21^st century techniques and ancient cultural practices, the two can be intertwined to improve the use of the soil sciences, air quality etc. This is not only about improving the environment, it’s also about using the ancient wisdom and practice plus modern techniques to alleviate negative behavior that sustain non-productive environment. Our tradition/culture is rich and we should make use of it because our ancestors had their reasons for preserving the tradition and we as children should endeavor to make use of it to yield a negative behavior free environment