Abstract
This project work examines the spread of cultism in tertiary institutions, causes, effects and solutions using College of Education Ekiadolor as a case study. This study was limited to the students of College of Education, Ekiadolor. The findings however showed that some of the causes of cultism are peer group influence, parental influence, erosion of educational standard, financial gain and black power etc and the effect of this cultism are destruction of lives and properties, identified and expelled threat to family etc and some of the solutions are moral upbringing of children, anti-cult laws, and the role of the media, public enlightenment advocacy.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Cultism can simply be described as a land of gang behaviour that is accepted and value of the larger society and is characterized by oath taking secrecy and violence. Cultism can also be seen as the state of phenomenon where persons are bound together with a common belief usually through some rituals. According to Oxford dictionary of current English 5th edition the word “cult” means a system of religion worship especially one that is expressed in rituals from this definition cults now popularly known as confraternity have assumed a monstrous features in our institutions of higher learning to this end, therefore, our various campuses, which were most have become citadel of violence and terrorism. The pertinent questions that one may ask is the phenomenon of cult just interring our institutions of higher learning, the answer figure have been known to be members of the pirates confraternity in their days in college or universities. Furthermore, when there was violent clashes between Eiye confraternity and the Buccaneer some notable professors and doctors at the institutions were found to be patrons and bankers of these cults. The implications is that these professors and doctors where members of these cults in their own college days. We find and disturbing trend of the proliferation of campuses cult in our institutions of higher learning, such cult are Vikings, the black axe, the morphine, the buccaneer, the pirates, the black arrow to mention but a few have become a familiar features in our institutions. Additionally, the attention of the government and the society at large is the introduction of violent savagery and terrorism into the present day cut a diametrical contrast to what obtained in yester years it is now common in our campuses that factors of ravel cults violent clashes even in broad day light and fight themselves down with weapons such as guns, and daggers, nocturnal initiation ceremonies in which initiated are animalized and some of them die in the process of making blood covenants and performing other occultist organized opposition against any kind of oppression real or imagined liberal consumption of alcohol use of drugs, intimidation and use of violent extortion, stealing armed robbers,, arson sexual abuse, and rape, examination malpractice, maiming, manslaughter and murder the recent occurrence are the university of Ile-Ife, Benin, Ekpoma, Ibadan and of the course College of Education, Ekiadolor. This is what has led to the public to speaking against the societal evil calling to its total eradication
The fundamental problems of cultism are the uncertain and unsafe atmosphere in our campuses even to the activities of members of secret cult these manner of operation is both sinister and Bizerte living behind them a trial of what destruction most distressing of the problems is the state of killing in our campuses in recent o=times many lives have been terminated, permanently in spite of measures put in place by the various arms of government and school authorities aimed at combating the ugly trend of cultism, the phenomenon on our campuses has refused to be eradicated. Thus, the researcher intend to make an indebt study into the factors which create the fearful climate that encourage the growth and spread of cultism in our institutions of higher learning with a view to proffer solution to the problems.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain the causes of cultism in tertiary institution
- To examine the effect of cultism on academic performance of student
- To ascertain whether threat from peer group or outside world lead people into cultism
- To ascertain whether cultism empower people to go into criminal act
1.4RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;
H0: there are no causes of cultism in tertiary institution
H1: there are causes of cultism in tertiary institution
H02: there are no effects of cultism on academic performance of student
H2: there are effects of cultism on academic performance of student
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will reveal how cultism was spread in tertiary institutions, the effects, causes and solutions, the study will also enable the government to understand and appreciate its areas of strength and weakness in the fight against cultism.
1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the spread of cultism in tertiary institution, the causes, effects and solutions. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
- b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities
1.7 DEFINITION OF THE STUDY
Cult: A system of religious worships especially one that is expressed in rituals.
Cultism: Is the state or phenomenon where persons are bound together with common beliefs.
Hitherto: This means until now or until a particular time.
Quest: The act of seeking or a long search or to find
Empower: To give power or authority to do or to give more control over their own life or the situation they are in
Confraternity: A group of people who join together especially for a religious purpose or to help other people.
Rituals: Series of actions that are always performs in the same way, especially as part of a religious ceremony.
Pirates: A person on a ship who attacks other ships at sea in order to steal from them.
Manslaughter: The crime of killing illegally but not deliberately
Maiming: To injure seriously causing damage to their body.
THE SPREAD OF CULTISM IN TERTIARY INSTITUTION, THE CAUSES, EFFECT AND SOLUTIONS
