Re-orientation of Unhealthy Values and Lifestyles in Nigerian Families

The family is the basic unit of the society one of whose major role is the inculcation of positive values and lifestyles to her teaming members. Values are generally what individuals, families and societies hold to be right, true and desirable and therefore create norms which are rules for behaviour and lifestyles. The traditional African family is known for her major role of inculcating positive values such as honesty, hard work, love, respect for elders, loyalty, communal living amongst others. Unfortunately these cherished values are now giving way to negative ones like corruption, cheating, dishonesty which have affected the lifestyles of family members negatively. This paper believes that the lost cherished values and lifestyles could be brought back through re-orientation. It therefore discusses concepts of family, values, lifestyles and re-orientation of unhealthy values and lifestyles. It challenges home economists and family life educators in particular to rise up to this task.