THE POTENTIAL OF NIGERIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN BUILDING AN INCORRUPTIBLE NIGERIAN SOCIETY

Nigeria is seen and referred to as one of the most corrupt nations of the world. This rating is a grave concern to many morally disposed and responsible citizens of the country. Hence, the solution to the problem of corruption becomes pertinent. Therefore, literature is a veritable instrument of social change, and because children are the hope and the leaders of any nation, children’s literature is identified as a means to address the problem. This study, using some texts of Nigerian children’s literature, carefully explored how the texts have vividly addressed the subject of corruption. The primary texts were used as sources of data, and the qualitative method was used to critically analyse the data. It was found that all the texts selected have the potential to address issues of corruption in various forms while condemning bribery and other immoral acts. The texts uphold morals such as dignity of labour, patriotism, obedience to elderly counsel, impartial judgement, sexual purity, and others. It was therefore recommended that Nigerian children’s literature should be adopted as a powerful national instrument to build responsible and morally upright children for the future.