AN EXAMINATION OF THE CAUSES AND EFFECT OF CULTISM AMONG STUDENT AND STRATEGIES FOR ELIMINATING IT IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Today, tertiary institutions in Nigeria are confronted with the embarrassing problem of cultism and the resurgence of aggressiveness in cult activities. Cultism is said to be the mother of all crimes in tertiary institutions, and this phenomenon has harmed our institutions’ image, learning quality, and graduates’ mental health.
According to Ogunade (2002), a secret cult is an enclosed organized association of people who share a common goal. It is a closed group with a unique sacred ideology and a series of rites centered on their secret symbols. Blood rituals are sometimes incorporated into occultic activities. It could be either animal blood or human blood.
He claimed that during initiation rites or rival group clashes on University grounds,
There is always bloodshed, which almost always results in the loss of life. Cultism can also be defined as a secretive ritual practiced by a group of people who share the same ideology, membership and initiation formalities, and their mode of operation, all of which have a negative impact on the entire administration and students of the institution. According to Thomas (2002), confraternities were nonviolent when they first appeared in the 1950s.
Unfortunately, they were later hijacked by military governments eager to strengthen their grip on university students who might challenge their authority.
For example, military authorities saw viral student unionism as a threat to their power consolidation. As a result, secret cults have emerged.
were used to silence student unions and their “anti-government activities,” particularly those that questioned or challenged the military dictatorship’s authorities. As a result, what began as a club or some socially conscious activity has evolved into a club of blood thirsty and blood sucking monsters masquerading as students.
Despite the government’s commitment to combating this societal ill, eradicating secret cults from tertiary institutions has become an unattainable goal. Against this backdrop, this study seeks to investigate the causes and effects of cultism, barriers to its extinction, and strategies for cultism elimination in tertiary institutions.
1.2 Research problem statement
Cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions has evolved over time, and its abolition in our tertiary institutions has been met with success.
With so many blockades, researchers and educators are concerned because the number of students joining cults in tertiary institutions is increasing. This has had an impact on their academic performance at school, as well as the loss of lives and property of students and management. Cult activities have had a significant impact on academic activities in tertiary institutions. This can be seen whenever rival groups’ cults clash. As a result, this study on the causes, effects, and strategies to combat cultism in tertiary institutions is necessary.
1.3 The study’s objectives
The primary goal of this research is to determine the causes, effects, and strategies for combating cultism in tertiary institutions. The research is focused on
set out to accomplish the following:
1. Investigate why students in tertiary institutions agree to join cults.
2. investigate the effects of cultism on academic performance of students.
3. Develop potential strategies for eliminating or reducing cultism in tertiary institutions.
1.4 Research concerns
The study will seek answers to the following research questions:
1. How does cultism affect students’ academic performance?
2. What types of behavior do cultists exhibit that have an impact on society?
3. Is it possible to combat cultism in our tertiary institutions?
4. What should be done to combat cultism in our higher education institutions?
1.5 Importance of the research
The study is significant for the following reasons.
This research will be beneficial to students, parents, and guardians.
academia and the society in general.
l The findings of the study will allow academic administrators to devise strategies to combat cultism in universities.
It will also serve as a guideline for future researchers who wish to conduct similar research.
1.6 Study Scope and Limitations
Cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions has been a source of concern, as it affects students, parents, lecturers, and even society at large. The study is limited to the causes and effects of cultism among students at tertiary institutions in Lagos state, with Lagos State University (LASU) serving as a case study, rather than the entire tertiary institution in Lagos state. The researcher is extremely
Time, money, and material availability are all constraints.
1.7 Term operational definition
Cultism is defined as the activities or practices of a group of people who share a common spiritual, religious, or philosophical belief and whose activities have eaten deeply into the fabric of society.
Strategies are actions taken to achieve one or more of the organization’s goals.
Tertiary Institutions: Tertiary education is post-secondary education received at universities (public or private), monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Leave a Comment