The Need for Skepticism in Nigeria

Leo Igwe

Volume 11.3, September 2001

Nigeria is a very religious country with most of its population
mired in superstition. This is not limited to the illiterate rural folks
but is also applicable to the urban elite and literati. In Nigeria there
is a strong and widespread belief in juju and charms, witchcraft,
ghosts, astrology, divination, reincarnation, miracles, private
revelation, fortunetelling, etc.

These beliefs are fostered and
reinforced by the many prophets and prophetesses, gurus,
miracle workers, faith healers, and soothsayers that lurk in every
nook and cranny of our cities and countryside.

These charlatans claim to have divine powers-the power to
bilocate and predict the future, the ability to heal all diseases-even
AIDS-and the power to make people rich or live longer.

All of this happens despite the fact that these beliefs and claims
have not stood the test of time, science, and reason, and that
contradictory evidence emerges every day. We have yet to see an
organized and coordinated attempt to challenge and unmask these
scientific pretensions and irrationalisms.

Instead, our schools, colleges, and universities as well as the local
newspapers and film industry have continued to misinform the
public by distorting science and packaging and presenting
pseudoscientific beliefs as genuine science. In fact, some of our
scholars have gone to the extent of defending these paranormal
claims as “African Science,” taunting skeptics as Western
apologists.

There is an enormous need for skepticism in Nigeria in order to
identify, separate, and distinguish the pseudoscientific from the
scientific in the so-called “African Science.”

Skepticism will provide an antidote and a counterbalance to
superstition and fringe science. It will help critique local
paranormal and supernatural claims, and critically examine age-
old myths, fantasies, illusions, and errors that support various
(sometimes harmful) traditional practices. Skeptical viewpoints
would help expose the tricks and fakery of godmen and make the
local media more balanced, objective, scientific, and responsible in
their reporting and programming.

They would empower people to develop the courage to think, and
through thinking liberate themselves and their communities from
mental slavery, dogmatism, and religious claptrap.

The skeptical viewpoint is critical to the future and promotion of
science education in our schools, colleges, and universities. It
would motivate students to think rationally and scientifically about
controversial topics and equip them with the necessary skills to
evaluate and distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific
ideas.

Furthermore, skepticism will help reduce ignorance and gullibility
and protect people against deception, manipulation, indoctrination,
exploitation, and death. For instance, skepticism will provide hope
to many innocent old women who are routinely targeted,
tortured, or burnt to death in the name of witchcraft and bring
succor to a number of girls and ladies whose social and marital
prospects are in great peril because they are believed to be
Ogbanje (a child that comes and goes) or mamiwota (a mermaid
or water spirit).

The skeptical view will therefore help improve the quality of life of
the people by improving the quality of what they know, what
they believe and accept, and facilitate the process of change and
secularization of our society, particularly in this era of African
renaissance.

At the last World Humanist Congress, I participated in the session
on combating superstition. I was delighted with the spirited efforts
being made by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of
Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) in America and Asia to
promote the cause of reason and science. Inspired by their noble
and courageous initiatives, I have, since my return to Nigeria,
been trying to reach out to skeptic-minded individuals who must
stand together in other to wrest our nation from the fangs of
superstition and pseudoscience.

Science and technology remain the touchstones of modern
civilization and development, and if Nigeria-and in fact Africa as a
whole-hope to become economically developed and
technologically advanced come next century, these issues must
be addressed.

There is an urgent need to raise the level of critical thinking,
scientific literacy, and understanding. African skeptics must see
this as their primary responsibility. African skeptics must rise up
to this great challenge now because all that is needed for
superstition to thrive and triumph is for skeptics to do nothing.

Afroskepticism, why not?

A news headline you hardly ever see: "Psychic Wins the
Lottery Again"

Much needed viewpoint.

We are contaminated by Ignorance,even some skeptic's are falling in on it..

Odilafta:
We are contaminated by Ignorance,even some skeptic's are falling in on it..

seconded