ISSN 2360-7998
Abstract: This paper aims to determine what ethical values and norms are of African origin that Africans can accept, adopt, and adapt to. Research has consistently demonstrated that Western ethical theories, particularly those related to information policies, do not align with the values of Africans, including Nigerians. Some traditional Africans accused the theories of being anti-African and encouraging cultural deracination. Consequently, this paper examines ethical values, proverbs, idioms, sayings, and norms that would form African-based theories that could validate or explain information policies. This study takes a holistic look at such values as a sense of communalism, a sense of respect for authorities and elders, a sense of positive human relations, a sense of slowness and carefulness, a sense of conspiracy, a sense of silence avoidance, a sense of being up and doing, and a sense of consequences. In summary, this study briefly examines significant issues that demand African-based information policies, including computer crime, plagiarism, and vendor client fraud, advanced information technology challenges, netiquette and intellectual property rights, societal ramifications, viruses, piracy, and hacking.
Keywords: ethical theories, information policies, communalism, plagiarism