CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
The emergence of cult activities in tertiary institutions in
Africa can be traced back to the early 1950s. According to Akpan, 1(2010),
what is known as campus cultism in tertiary institutions started at the
University College, Ibadan, Nigeria in 1952. It was formed by Nigeria’s Nobel
Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and six others who founded the Pyrates
Confraternity. The other six are Olumuyiwa Awe, Ralph Opara, and Tunji Tubi,
Aig Imokhuede, Pius Olegbe and Olu Agunloye. Their main objectives included the
abolition of convention; the revival of the age of chivalry and to end
tribalism, to elevate the social life of the university campus where
orderliness and discipline could be planted in the mind of students/youths who
were expected to be future leaders in Nigeria and elitism 2(Aguda, 2006).
Bawa, 3(2010), lamented that little did Soyinka and his
friends realized that they were making history nor did they come to terms with
the fact that students and indeed youths radicalism was being given a national
boost that will have socio economic influence and academic performance of
students in the higher institutions.
The development was paradoxical to the extent that they little
realized that they were laying the foundation for what was to be transformed
eventually into gansterism.
In defining cultism, Azelama, Alude and Imhonda 4(2004)
noted that “cult is an assemblage of people united by certain ideals, or
symbols and whose rites and ceremonies of veneration are unique and shrouded in
mysteries with a secrecy that cannot be broken.”
Furthermore, Rotimi 5(2005)
cites the anthropological definition of ‘cult’ by Oxford Concise Dictionary of
Sociology as ‘a set of practices and beliefs of a group in relation to a local
god.’ The same dictionary gives a sociological definition of a cult as ‘a small
group of religious activists whose beliefs are typically secret, esoteric and
individualistic.’ Alemika, 6(2013), and the Free Encyclopedia define
cult in a similar manner.
Arogundade, 7(2007)
indicated that cult leaders have absolute control over the members of the
movement and as such they use force to subdue them under their command. The
author concluded that because cults tend to be leader centred, exploitative and
harmful, they come into conflict with and threatened by the rational open and
benevolent system of members’ families and society at large and that it is an
exploitatively manipulative and abusive group in which members are induced to
serve the group leader(s).
From these accounts, it can
be deduced that cults and cultism have certain elements in common - they are
esoteric, shrouded in secrecy, usually made up of a small group of people with
a charismatic leader, and may or may not be religious in nature.
In the tertiary institutions today, the socio-economic influence
of cultism on academic performance cannot be overemphasized as these cults are
involved in activities that could destabilize the smooth running of academic 8(Chikwem,
2009).
There are reported cases of murder of students in clashes between
rival cults, students that are supposed to be captains of industries and leader
of tomorrow are dropping out of schools thereby having negative influence on
the socio-economic and academic performance 9(Obi, 2003). In some
cases, non cult members were murdered for reasons of provoking a cult member or
group. Also female students were raped, disfigured for refusing to yield to
love advance from cult members. Despite the fact that many view cultism as
abode of evil, where all manners of evil such as maiming, murder, examination
malpractice, robbery, rape, intimidation of fellow students and lecturers for
good grades, forceful love (girl friends) and clashes of rival cults groups,
some students find it fashionable to blend or join cults groups for different
reasons 10(Bandura, 2012).
In the normal school situation, people feel comfortable as the
academic environments in the campuses are usually very conducive without
disturbances.
As reported by Azelama, Alude
& Imhonde, 4(2004), every student was supposed to
know why he/she is in the higher institution and as such his/her academic
pursuit (aim and objective) must be achieved for he/she has no negative
motives.
For the above reasons and social problems associated with campus
cult activities calls for further investigation and it is on this background
that this research study will be carried out to investigate the socio-economic
influence of cultism on 200 level students of sociology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State as a case study.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Universities as higher institutions are places for teaching,
learning and researching into the problems of societies and the world. The
existence of campus cult activities in our tertiary institution is a serious
threat to social economic and the realisation of academic objective.
It has been observed that cult activities have led to the death of
students and even lecturers on campus which has caused many students to live in
perpetual fear of cult activities on campus. Chikwem, 8(2009) points
out that if these ugly trends are not checked, the future role of our tertiary
institutions as agents of social economic change and national development will
be seriously threatened.
There
was peaceful co-existence among students, lecturers and administrators.
However, over the past two decades, there has been a change in this scenario as
some of these clubs have metamorphosed into cult groups 11(Enechukwu, 2011).
Some of the problems that led to cultist activities were the social,
political and educational changes prevailing at the time. Political parties
which sprung up at the time raised political awareness and students were not
left out of this social change. Another problem that introduced violence into
cults in Nigeria tertiary institution was the emergence of military rule in
Nigeria when power was obtained as a result of violence. Politicians used cult
members for revenge and for settling personal scores. Cultist groups enjoyed
subtle support from both government and school authorities 12(Chioma, 2008).
The
fundamental problem of cultism is the uncertain, unsafe atmosphere and the
social economic influence on the academic performance. There are complains across the strata of the
society that standard of education in allergies is falling very fast especially
in our higher institutions of learning as a result of cultism. Socio-economic influence of cultism on the
academic performance in higher institutions cannot be overemphasized as the
problem caused by cultism are very many and deadly 13(Ezennah, 2008). Cultism has send people to their
early grave and many other disabled for life.
Uncountable students of higher institutions in Nigeria drop out yearly
due to cultism and all efforts to curtail it yielded little or no
result. This has become a problem and a thing of concern to parents,
lecturers and other stakeholders in the society.
It
is against this background that this study was faced with the problem of
establishing validly of Socio-Economic Influence of Cultism on 200
level students of sociology, University of Ibadan as a Case Study and possible measures that can address the problem.
1.3 Research Questions
In order to
achieve the objectives of this study, the following research questions were formulated
to guide the study:
1. What are the socio-economic influences of cultism
on 200 level students of sociology academic performance in the university of
Ibadan?
2. Is there a
significant relationship between cultism and academic performance of 200 level students of sociology, University
of Ibadan?
3. Do cult activities disrupt the
academic calendar of 200 level students of sociology?
4. Does cultism
lead to violence and loss of lives to the extent that socio-economic and
standard of education in Nigeria has been negatively affected?
5. What are the social factors that lead to 200 level students’ campus
cultism in higher institutions?
1.4 Objectives
of the Study
The main objective of the study is Socio-Economic
Influence of Cultism on 200 level students sociology of the university of
Ibadan, Oyo State.
The specific objectives are to;
1. Examine the socio-economic influences of cultism on
200 level students sociology academic performance in the university of Ibadan
2. Know if
cult activities disrupt the academic calendar in 200 level students of
sociology in the University of Ibadan
3. Find out if cultism
leads to violence and loss of lives to the extent that socio-economic and
standard of education in Nigeria has been negatively affected
4. Investigate the social factors that lead to 200 level students’
of sociology campus cultism in university of Ibadan
5.
Recommend and proffer solution at the end of the research study
1.5 Statement
of Hypotheses
Based on the objectives and the research questions
of this study, below hypotheses would be tested in the course of the study.
H0:
There
is no socio-economic influence of cultism on 200 level students of sociology
academic performance in the University of Ibadan
H1:
There is socio-economic influence of cultism on 200 level students of sociology
academic performance in the university of Ibadan
1.6 Significance of the Study
The result of this study will benefit university authorities,
parents, counsellors, researchers, government and corporate bodies as it will
enable them take proactive steps in check mating this ugly trend on time – like
the saying goes, a stitch at a time saves nine. Also, university authorities in
the various institutions will be able to assess their shortcomings in their bid
to check this menace.
It will be of immense benefit to students as it will enable them to
take a more rational decision concerning joining/associating with campus
cultists.
For parents, they will also benefit from this study because it
will provide them with greater knowledge on the level of involvement and
viciousness of the operations of the campus cultist problem. Such improved
awareness will enhance their advisory role. Parents will also become more
co-operative with the appropriate authorities in the handling of issues of
secret cults in schools.
Finally, the findings of the
study will be beneficial to the academic community as a whole, since it is a
research effort and reference material.
