REHABILITATION OF EX-CULTISTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS


REHABILITATION OF EX-CULTISTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract vi

Table of Contents vii

CHAPTER ONE

 Introduction 1

Statement of the Problem 6

Objectives of Study 7

Research Questions 8

Assumptions 9

Scope and Limitation of Study 10

Significance of the Study 10

Research Methodology 11

Source of Data 12

Data Analysis 12

References 13

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review and Theoretical Framework 14

Theoretical Framework 22

Structural Functionalism Defined 23

References 27

CHAPTER THREE

Historical Antecedent of Cultism 28

Causes of Cultism in Tertiary Institutions 36

Modes of Operation of Secret Cults 42

Recruitment 43

Initiation 44

The Processes of Initiation in Black Axe 46

Secret Cults Activities over the years 49

Types of Secret-Cults in Tertiary Institutions 65

Some of the Secret Cults Symbols/Colour 69

Social forces and Cultism 70

Educational Sector 70

Other societal forces 71

Social Control Mechanisms and Secret Cult 71

References 76

CHAPTER FOUR

Cultism in Tertiary Institutions and Rehabilitation 

of Ex-Cultist:  A Contemporary Focus 80

CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion:  Rethinking the Rehabilitation of 

Ex-Cultists in Tertiary Institutions in Delta State 99

Major Findings 99

Conclusion 101

Recommendations 101

Bibliography 103

Appendix 1:  Questionnaire 108

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Cultism and its attendant problems have assumed a threatening dimension in recent times in the Nigerian society.  More disturbing is the fact that cultism cuts across all facets of the society, including the educational institutions in the country.  The immediate consequence is that the Nigerian universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and secondary schools have become centres of violence, instead of centres of learning that they were hitherto known for.  Indeed, some scholars like Gimba Abubakar (2002) commenting on the deteriorating standards of tertiary education referred to cult activities in the universities as offering “Bachelor of Science” in violence and “Master of Administration” in cultism.

This situation prompted Eneji (1996) to have remarked that “almost every passing day, there are new stories of devilish acts perpetuated by secret cults on campuses”.  He added further that from the universities to polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions of learning come stories of violence, torture and unwarranted intimidation executed by members of secret cults.

It is common place to see that most Nigerian newspapers and magazines have become “bulletin boards” for reporting the daily exploits of members of secret cults.  In fact, tertiary institutions are now breeding ground for cultists operations.  Within the framework of cultism, justice is replaced with “Jungle Justice”, peace by tales of horror, love by brutality.  Intimidation, tortures and extortions abound and morality seems to have been driven into outright decadence.  In the same way, academic excellence has been relegated to the background.  Unfortunately, all efforts to tackle the social menace, cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions, especially in Delta State have defied all solutions.  The efforts of the Government and the managements of this citadel of learning are like putting off the fire without identifying the sources of the fire.

Cult clashes in Delta State tertiary institutions have often led to the destruction of lives and property, brutal rapes, maiming and kidnapping.  They have been a major threat to the effective pursuit of academics in the institutions of higher learning in Delta State and beyond.

The ravaging problem posed by cultism brings to the fore the numerous social problems that characterize modern and traditional societies like ours and this culminate to efforts by sociologists and other related professionals coming up to proffer solutions to the unpleasant socio-cultural conditions which tend to have unpleasant consequences for humanity.

Taking a clue from the above analysis, cultism could be well described as a social menace due to its associated morally questionable conducts – murder, prostitution, rape and sexual harassment, armed robbery, etc.

Cultism as manifested in secret cults is a set of practices, beliefs or ideas whose essence is known only to members and exclusively admired and dependent upon by many, even to the extent that members would want to lay down their lives.  It is this doggedness of members that reinforces the importance of and awe of the group, especially among non-members.

Honestly speaking, cults membership involves close group membership such as the Ogboni secret cult among the Yoruba of the South Western Nigeria, now the Refined Ogboni Fraternity, Ekpe secret cult among the Efiks of the Southern part of Nigeria, Asigidi found in the Benin Area of Edo State, etc. with their different ways of carrying out their activities in their area of jurisdiction.  The most disheartening thing is that what is happening in the larger society has been transferred into the tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the Delta State axis in particular.

This social dynamism has caused a social disorganization, intellectual stagnation, and a crimogenic society where anxiety and fear of the unknown stand in the way of capacity building and national development.

The quest to curb the attended problem of cultism has led to the identification of several causal factors such as government ineptitude, poor family background, staunched self development and social disorganization in all facets of life.

In the past different efforts have been made by government, non-governmental organizations and managements of tertiary institutions to bring order to cultists activities on campuses.  However, all these strategies adopted by these responsible bodies have proved moderate success as cultists’ activities in Delta State tertiary institutions have become more sophisticated and unpredictable with the glaring challenge of rehabilitating those ex-cultists who renounced their membership in their different cults.

The issue that captures the minds of sociologists and other professionals is whether we should fold our hands and pretend not to see these promising youths who have renounced cult membership rot away, or should we ignore those ex-cultists to their fate?

Statement of the Problem

Ex-cultists in tertiary institutions suffer some psychological setbacks in relation to their fellow students on campuses.  Initially, at the time of initiation and active participation in cult’s activities, they were on top of the world.  They were terrorists to their schoolmates and victims but with the new change of status as ex-cultists, their power and influence begins to dwindle.  They sometimes feel alienated from their old friends and sometimes feared to be victimized by opposition camps and even their former cult members.

Some of the envisaged problems faced by ex-cultists are given below:

a. They are unable to think critically and logically.

b. They are sometimes prey and victims of cults members and opposition camps.

c. They suffer from fear due to impaired thinking and consequently anxiety of the unknown.

d. Inability to do well in academics and other areas of life due to threats from former cult members.

e. Loss of respect and identity among their school mates.

f. Inability of school management to cater for their traumatic and psychological problems.

g. They suffer from emotional stress.

h. They are unable to be well re-integrated into the academic community.

Objectives of Study

This study is aimed at investigating the impact of cultic activity on higher institutions of learning and how rehabilitation efforts have impacted on ex-cultists.  However, these objectives are outlined below:

1. To explain the psychological and social dynamics common to cultic environment.

2. To help individuals who are ex-cultists to return to emotional and psychological stability.

3. To help the student or ex-cultist to return to social stability through a reintegration programme.

4. To examine the causes of cultism in tertiary institutions.

5. To trace the historical antecedent, of cultism in tertiary institutions.

6. To recommend measures to curb the menace of cultism in tertiary institutions.

Research Questions

In order to have a proper grasp of the study, the following questions need to be asked:

1. Does ex-cultists reason or think logically?

2. Are ex-cultists victims of violence from former cult members and opposition cults?

3. Are ex-cultists predisposed to fear of the unknown?

4. Is the poor academic performance of ex-cultists due to fear from former cult members?

5. Do ex-cultists loose respect from their school mates?

6. Does school management cater adequately for the traumatic and psychological needs of ex-cultists?

7. Do ex-cultists suffer from emotional stress?

8. Does the rehabilitation efforts of management yields proper integration into the academic community.

Assumptions

The following assumptions are developed to enable the researcher to critically examine the subject matter:

1. Low academic performance is directly related to ex-cultist membership of secret cult.

2. Aggressive behaviour is directly related to membership of secret cults.

3. Individuals from defective family background are more prone to membership of secret cult.

4. There is relationship between the rehabilitation efforts of school management and ex-cultists in tertiary institutions.

Scope and Limitation of Study

This study is carried out within the confines of tertiary institutions in Delta State.  The choice for this boundary is due to the fact that the situations in Delta State University Campuses located at Abraka and Oleh, Delta State Polytechnic at Ozoro, Oghara and Ogwachuku , Delta State College of Education at Agbor, and Warri and other citadel of higher learning. However, the situation is not different from other universities or colleges nationwide but due to time and financial constraints, the focus shall be at the three campuses of Delta state University situated at Abraka. 

Significance of the Study

The research work is directed at contributing to knowledge in all citadel of learning.  The following are the relevance:

1. The study will show the relationship that exist between cults activities and Nigerian students.

2. It will also indicate whether the activities of cultists on the students have been more relevant or otherwise.

3. It shall also make recommendations on areas where necessary to improve the lots of the Nigerian students.

4. The recommendations of this study shall be useful to counselors in all respect to students’ life.

5. It shall be of immense benefit to government ministries, agencies and other non-governmental organizations involved on the intervention and prevention of cultism in Nigerian universities and other colleges of learning.

6. It shall also be used for the rehabilitation of ex-cultists who have renounced their membership of secret cults.

7. This study shall also be an eye-opener to fresh undergraduates in higher institutions.

8. The study shall also serve as a guide to psychologists who are involved in the rehabilitation of ex-cultists.

Research Methodology

This encompasses the sources of data and data analysis.

Sources of Data

The data for this study shall be collected from primary and secondary sources.  In the case of the former, the researcher shall randomly distribute 200 Questionnaire to the three campuses of Delta State University, Abraka.

In each questionnaire, 20 questions shall be asked and the questionnaire shall be collected the same day.

On the other hand, secondary sources of data shall be based on unpublished and published documents, journals and related literature which shall be sought from the library, and internet.

Data Analysis

The data collected shall be presented orderly for proper analysis.  The completed and answered questionnaire shall be analyzed using the quantitative research method.

In addition, this document and relevant literatures shall be well analyzed in concomitant with the data so collected.

REFERENCES

Eneji Tessi (996). Death on the loss as secret cult takes over campuses.  Sunday Tribune, 25th February, p. 19.

Gimber, Abubakar (2002).  The notebook, B.Sc. (Violence) M.A. (Cultism) Nigerian Tribune 21st October, p. 16.

.

REHABILITATION OF EX-CULTISTS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS



TYPE IN YOUR TOPIC AND CLICK SEARCH.






RESEARCHWAP.NET

Researchwap.net is an online repository for free project topics and research materials, articles and custom writing of research works. We’re an online resource centre that provides a vast database for students to access numerous research project topics and materials. Researchwap.net guides and assist Postgraduate, Undergraduate and Final Year Students with well researched and quality project topics, topic ideas, research guides and project materials. We’re reliable and trustworthy, and we really understand what is called “time factor”, that is why we’ve simplified the process so that students can get their research projects ready on time. Our platform provides more educational services, such as hiring a writer, research analysis, and software for computer science research and we also seriously adhere to a timely delivery.

TESTIMONIES FROM OUR CLIENTS


Please feel free to carefully review some written and captured responses from our satisfied clients.

  • "Exceptionally outstanding. Highly recommend for all who wish to have effective and excellent project defence. Easily Accessable, Affordable, Effective and effective."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "I saw this website on facebook page and I did not even bother since I was in a hurry to complete my project. But I am totally amazed that when I visited the website and saw the topic I was looking for and I decided to give a try and now I have received it within an hour after ordering the material. Am grateful guys!"

    Hilary Yusuf, United States International University Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
  • "Researchwap.net is a website I recommend to all student and researchers within and outside the country. The web owners are doing great job and I appreciate them for that. Once again, thank you very much "researchwap.net" and God bless you and your business! ."

    Debby Henry George, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA.
  • "Great User Experience, Nice flows and Superb functionalities.The app is indeed a great tech innovation for greasing the wheels of final year, research and other pedagogical related project works. A trial would definitely convince you."

    Lamilare Valentine, Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi, Ghana.
  • "I love what you guys are doing, your material guided me well through my research. Thank you for helping me achieve academic success."

    Sampson, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • "researchwap.com is God-sent! I got good grades in my seminar and project with the help of your service, thank you soooooo much."

    Cynthia, Akwa Ibom State University .
  • "Sorry, it was in my spam folder all along, I should have looked it up properly first. Please keep up the good work, your team is quite commited. Am grateful...I will certainly refer my friends too."

    Elizabeth, Obafemi Awolowo University
  • "Am happy the defense went well, thanks to your articles. I may not be able to express how grateful I am for all your assistance, but on my honour, I owe you guys a good number of referrals. Thank you once again."

    Ali Olanrewaju, Lagos State University.
  • "My Dear Researchwap, initially I never believed one can actually do honest business transactions with Nigerians online until i stumbled into your website. You have broken a new legacy of record as far as am concerned. Keep up the good work!"

    Willie Ekereobong, University of Port Harcourt.
  • "WOW, SO IT'S TRUE??!! I can't believe I got this quality work for just 3k...I thought it was scam ooo. I wouldn't mind if it goes for over 5k, its worth it. Thank you!"

    Theressa, Igbinedion University.
  • "I did not see my project topic on your website so I decided to call your customer care number, the attention I got was epic! I got help from the beginning to the end of my project in just 3 days, they even taught me how to defend my project and I got a 'B' at the end. Thank you so much researchwap.com, infact, I owe my graduating well today to you guys...."

    Joseph, Abia state Polytechnic.
  • "My friend told me about ResearchWap website, I doubted her until I saw her receive her full project in less than 15 miniutes, I tried mine too and got it same, right now, am telling everyone in my school about researchwap.com, no one has to suffer any more writing their project. Thank you for making life easy for me and my fellow students... Keep up the good work"

    Christiana, Landmark University .
  • "I wish I knew you guys when I wrote my first degree project, it took so much time and effort then. Now, with just a click of a button, I got my complete project in less than 15 minutes. You guys are too amazing!."

    Musa, Federal University of Technology Minna
  • "I was scared at first when I saw your website but I decided to risk my last 3k and surprisingly I got my complete project in my email box instantly. This is so nice!!!."

    Ali Obafemi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Niger State.
  • To contribute to our success story, send us a feedback or please kindly call 2348037664978.
    Then your comment and contact will be published here also with your consent.

    Thank you for choosing researchwap.com.