Description
ABSTRACT
This study investigated into the socio-economic effect of secret cult in tertiary institutions in Ilorin Metropolis.
Two hundred respondents participated in the study. Four research hypotheses were generated for the study and t-test statistical method was used to analyse the data gathered with the socio-economic effect of secret cult on students’ academic performance questionnaire. The study showed that significant relationship existed between non-funding of University library and students performance.
Also significant relationship existed between non-qualified staff and students’ performance, significant relationship existed between inadequate relevant resources and students’ performance and significant relationship exist between staff motivation and students performance.
It was therefore recommended that qualified library staff must be well equipped with relevant equipment, the library should be well equipped while there should be opportunity for future development of the library.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS PAGE
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv
ABSTRACT vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
LIST OF TABLES ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study \1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 6
1.3 Purpose of the Study 7
1.4 General Questions 8
1.5 Research Questions 8
1.6 Research Hypotheses 9
1.7 Significance of the Study 9
1.8 Delimitation and Scope of the Study 10
1.9 Definition of Terms (Operational Definitions) 10
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Concept of Secret Cult 12
2.2 Meaning of Cultism 16
2.3 History of Cultism in Nigeria 20
2.4 Reasons Why People Join Cults 23
2.5 Existence of Cult Group on Campuses 26
2.6 Effect of Cult Activities 30
2.7 Suggested Method of Curbing Cultism 38
2.8 Summary of the Reviewed of Related Literature 43
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Research Design 44
3.2 Population of the Study 44
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques 45
3.4 Instrumentation 45
3.5 Validity of the Instrument 46
3.6 Reliability of the Instrument 46
3.7 Administration of the Instrument 47
3.8 Method Data Analysis 47
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Results 48
4.2 Hypotheses Testing 50
4.3 Discussion of Findings 54
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 57
5.2 Conclusion 58
5.3 Implications of the Study 59
5.4 Recommendations 59
5.5 Limitations of the Study 60
5.6 Suggestions for Further Study 60
REFERENCES 61
APPENDIX 63
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Distribution of Respondents by Sex 48
Table 2: Distribution of Respondents by Age 48
Table 3: Distribution of Respondents by Religion 49
Table 4: Distribution of Respondents by Parents
Education 49
Table 5: t-test analysis comparing participants
by sex 50
Table 6: t-test analysis comparing respondents by
Age group 51
Table 7: t-test analysis comparing participants by
religion 52
Table 8: t-test analysis participants by parents’
Education 53
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Cultism is a secret organization formed by students while in the school, most especially in the tertiary institution.
Molagun (2003) defined cultism as a religious group often based on immediate emotional experience rather than on a throughout ideology of most world religions Beth (1982). Advanced Oxford Dictionary defines cultism as a term coined out of the word cult, and that cultism is an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religions.
Cultism has become one of the major problems confronting most of our tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It is not an over statement to say that Nigeria’s educational system is on the verge of collapse if nothing is done by the government, school authorities, students and the society in general to stop cultism in our tertiary institutions.
Cultism have been known to have caused many havocs in our tertiary institutions as members engage themselves in brutal killing of other fellow students, harassing of lecturers, raping, destruction of school properties and causing violence in the school campuses thus, making the school environment unconducive for learning.
The effects of secret cults in schools are numerous. Such cult had newer dimension to the educational problems we already have. The rate at which cults are causing disruptions in the smooth running of various institutions of learning is assuming an alarming proportion. For example, in the wake of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the cults in as recorded on the pages of various national dailies. To help us appreciate the negative effects of cults in our institutions, we examine a well documented newspaper report and other eye witness accounts as recorded in Olaoye (1996), five occult members were shot dead by members of rival secret cult at the university of Benin, one was shot dead while thirty got drowned in an attempt to escape arrest at the University of Calabar. More so, four were shot dead at the University of Ibadan. A science laboratory was set ablaze by cult members at University of Jos. About twelve cult students among whom were two female students from tertiary institutions in Kwara State were in police custody for being in possession of dangerous weapons. One was murdered while another was shot at the Federal Polytechnic Offa. Occult members struck at the Yaba College of Technology leaving four dead in 1994, nine students of Baptist High School Abeokuta, were caught performing initiation rites for members of their cult in the midnight. A similar incident was reported at a secondary school in Abia State where a principal caught thirteen students with guns. Moreover, nine students of Federal Government College, Indoani in Ondo State were expelled for belonging to secret cults. Occults members also struck at the College of Education in Ila-Orangun leading to destructions of properties. Bulus, (2003). The moral decadence in our tertiary institutions can be traced to the family, which is an institution that permits safe guarding of the child during the period of biological immaturity and also provide for the child’s primary socialization and initial education. Parenthood is rapidly becoming a highly self conscious vocation Mitchell, (1996) and it is in the realm of inter-personal relationships and social interactions that the self conscious operates.
Musgrave (1996) has emphasized that the claims which schools make concerning their impact upon children characters are probably both extravagant and unfounded that they are in general of negligible influence. The real prime and lasting influence is in home and if there is a deprivation here (i.e. materially, mentally or spiritually there will be some form of deprivation in the personality of the child Bowlby (1995) described that observation of several deprived children demonstrated that their conscience and potentialities were not developed. The family moulds the personality of a child throughout his school life. The question now arises, what are the factors responsible for the causes of cultism in our tertiary institutions and how has cultism influence the students in our tertiary institutions?
People differ in their opinions some blame the cause on the parents while some blame the cause on school authorities while others are of the views that the students themselves and even the government are not helping matters as regards the issue of cultism in our tertiary institutions.
Our assumption in this study therefore are many factors, on why students join cultism such as students socio-economics background, search for self-image or self-esteem and student desire to belong. It is also assumed that inferiority complex on the part of the students has a lot to do with cultism in tertiary institutions. It is assumed also that the influence of home environment, peer group pressures and many other factors are all contributory factors that cause cultism in our tertiary institutions, now that the research is out to find out the influence of cultism on students academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis. It is assumed that at the end, the result of this study will bring awareness not only to the school authorities and the parent but to the population at large, thereby giving enlightenment on how influence of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis can be curbed in our tertiary institution.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
It is often said that education is the greatest legacy any parent can bestow on his child. We all know that youth of today are the future leaders of tomorrow. If this being the case, there is need for youths to be properly guided and adequately educated to desist from cultism in tertiary institutions for them to be responsible leaders and citizens of Nigeria. Cultic activities could disturb serious academic programme, because of its fear and terror, there is need to find out why students joint it and its effect on the academic performance of its members, thus, the problem of the study.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the the socio-economic effect of secret cult in Ilorin metropolis. It also sought to find out if:
- There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the male and female students’ performance.
- There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and old students.
- There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students.
- There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents.
1.4 General Questions
What is the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students’?
1.5 Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study.
- Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female students?
- Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and adolescents?
- Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students?
- Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
The following hypotheses were tested in the study.
- There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female students.
- There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and old students.
- There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students.
- There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism in the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The result of this study will help to fore-see what is likely to happen to our academic performance in future if cultism is not put in control. It would also help to findout the other contributory factors that lead students to cultism in academic performances.
The study will enlighten the parents, the school authorities and the society at large about those factors that cause cultism and its impact. The research also offers a food for thought for the government, educationists, journalists and suggestion for improvement.
Further still, the research could serve as spring board for other investigations.
1.8 Delimitation and Scope of the Study
The study investigated the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students in Ilorin metropolis. It involves all selected students in the selected schools. It is however limited to the only students responded to the items of the questionnaire.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms (Operational Terms)
Confession: Admitting that are is guilty of a crime.
Cult: Refers to a small group of people who have extreme religious belief and who are not parts of any established religion. It is also define as associations whose existence, membership, purpose or ritual is not revealed to non-members. Macbel (2003).
Curb: To control or limit.
Frustrated: Refers to someone being annoyed and impatience because such a person cannot achieve what he wanted.
Impart: Refers to the power to affect somebody’s actions, character or belief especially by providing and example for them to follow and winning their admiration or making them afraid to disagree.
Inferiority complex: Feeling less important, less clever or less admired than other people.
Intimidate: To frighten or threaten to compel a person to do things against his/her will.
Peer group: Refers to group of people of approximately the same age or status.
Rape: To force someone to have sex when such a person is not interested.
Social: Refers to the organization and relationship between people and communities.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
This research work investigated the influences of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis. Two hundred respondents were used for the study and four research hypotheses were proposed and tested through influence of cultism of students’ performance questionnaire. Data collected were made used using frequency counts, percentage and t-test.
The results showed that cultic activities destroyed academic activities and destroyed the personalities of the victims on the comparison, there is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female, young and old and student from literate and illiterate parents, significant different was, however found on the basis of religion.
5.2 Conclusion
Based on the results of findings, the following conclusions are drawn: –
- Cultism negatively student performance and personality.
- There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female students.
- There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and old students.
- There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students.
- There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism in the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents.
5.3 Implications of the Study
The facts that significant difference was found for Christian and Muslim faith this have implication for counselling. This, all hands should be on deck to educate the public on the danger of cultism and discourage people from the traditional cult (100 male) belief.
5.4 Recommendations
Having established the influence of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis, the following suggestions were put forward as measures that can be taken to curb cultism in our tertiary institutions.
- Government should give the university management a free hand to deal with students who are involved in cult activities both within and outside the campus.
- The school library too must be well equipped to provide relevant materials to the students and teachers on cultism.
- The school must be provided with adequate and relevant teaching materials to get students interest in learning rather than staying idle which could easily lure them into cultism.
5.5 Limitations of the Study
Problems experienced in carrying out the study were the respondents’ fear of confidentiality of their responses. This was however, solved by assuring them of secrecy and the purpose of the study.
5.6 Suggestion for Further Studies
The new students should be carrying out the findings:
- Support enjoyed by cultism in tertiary institution.
- Influence of cultural practices on cultic activities in Nigeria.
- Relationship between psychopathology and cultism in Nigeria.
