Abstract: The studies investigated the teaching of literature in English on the values, virtues and development of crisis in Nigeria. Descriptive survey method was used to elicit information from 200 literature students in 3 Universities located in Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun states in the south west Nigeria. The study attempts to find out if there would be any difference between students who were taught literature at the secondary schools and those who were not taught specifically in their abilities to identify values and virtues that can contribute to or inhibit the development of Nigeria and also if literature teaching can enhance development of positive values and virtues which will lessen development of crisis in Nigeria. The analysis of the data collected shows that, there is significant difference in the ability of the students who were taught literature and those who were not in their ability to identify and develop positive values and virtues that will minimize development of crisis. It is recommended that literature should be a core subject at the secondary school level. The teachers have to emphasize any lesson derived from any literary text studied by the students.