Culture and Institutional Performance - towards Effective Management of Cultism in Nigerian Universities

This research work was aimed at studying the correlation between cultism and some selected variables among students in Nigerian universities with a view to finding out how best university authorities can handle the menace of cultism. No doubt, this phenomenon accounts significantly for the continuing crisis of performance and credibility of the Nigerian university system. The variables included in the research are lack of facilities, lecturer absenteeism, socio-economic background, drug abuse and age. The research population was drawn from five of the Nigerian universities. The research findings indicated that lack of instructional facilities; lecturer absenteeism, drug abuse and age were significantly related to cultism (P < .001). But the socio-economic background was not found to be significantly related to cultism (P > .05). Some salient suggestions were forwarded in order to reduce or eliminate cultism in our universities. CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE TOWARDS EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CULTISM IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES INTRODUCTION One of the societal phenomena that have generated a lot of attention in educational institutions in Nigeria is cultism. A good part of the crisis of performance and credibility faced by the institutions today can be traced to it. Governments, parents, scholars and the citizenry have been vogue down by the menace of cultism. In the light of the negative consequences of cultism, the federal government has sponsored series of seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops with a view to eradicating cultism in the society. Government has targeted universities for the fight against cultism. Scholars, student-union leaders, members of the society as well as religious leaders have taken part in the fight against cultism. In the same vein university administrations has been trying to curve the menace of cultism. The term cultism is not short of different definitions. Aina (1999) defined cultism as a particular system of (religious) belief culminating into profound commitment in thought and in action. Similarly, the term cultism has been defined as secret activities carried out with a view to achieving nefarious goals and objectives (Ukegbile, 1999). Whatever conceptual connotation may be ascribed to cultism, it embraces indoctrination which leads to change in belief, value thought and action culminating into an unalloyed commitment and alliance, the end result of which is socially obnoxious. Cultists carry out their activities through abduction by force, abduction through drug, friendship, and use of money or marks for examinations. In some instances beautiful women are used to enticed culprits. Cultists carry out their activities in form of sacrifice. They use parts of human body for their rituals. In most cases they are cannibals INDICES OF CULTISM Series of activities serve as indicators to cultism. Such indicators are inherent in the behaviour of the individual. It should be noted that a mere exhibition of one or more of the indicators does not connote cultism. In fact a single or rare occurrence of the identified indicators does not warrant ascribing that behaviour to cultism. But consistent and frequent exhibition of one or more of the identified indicators could lead to cultism. Sambo (1999) identified the following indicators of cultism: 1. Secret Meeting: Organising and attending secret meeting is identified as a very strong indicator to cultism. Cult activities are never open to none members. In fact, it is an offence for members to disclose any of the activities of their cult. 2. Tongue: Cultists have their own language, which can only be understood by members. It could be English, Hausa, Yoruba or any other language. The fact that one speaks their language does not mean he/she comprehends their communication. For instance, the expression ‘I want to see red,’ may mean that the speaker wants someone killed in cold blood. 3. Drug Abuse: This is one of the most widely accepted and significant indicators of cultism. Cultists are believed to indulge in drug abuse. They are contended to be taking drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and other harmful drugs. Similarly, cultists take drugs without medical prescription. Cultists rarely take alcohol during operation (Sambo, 1999). Although cultists indulge in drug abuse, they seldom take any drug that will make them commit mistake during their operations. But they take excessive alcohol before or after operations (Sambo, 1999). 4. Disrespect for Constituted Authority: It is a rule rather than an exception that cultists break law and order as well as norms and standards of the society consistently and frequently. In fact, their disrespect for the constituted authority increases in linearity continuum. In other words, the more individuals remain as members of cults, the more they are likely to break rules and regulations as well as societal norms and standards. Undoubtedly, cultists are known to be very indisciplined to constituted and societal rules and regulations. But they are highly disciplined when it comes to the cult’s rules and regulations. 5. Poor Physical Appearance: Another indicator of cultism is poor physical appearance or obscure mode of dressing. Cultists usually have one or more physical injuries. In the course of their operations they get themselves injured through heavy cuts on the face, the legs, the shoulders or the chest. They hardly go to hospital for fear of being detected and this makes the healing process of their wounds abnormal. 6. Dictatorship: By orientation cultists are bully and dictatorial in tendency and action. Usually, they use physical harassment to achieve their goals and objectives. They invoke fear in their peers and other people they interact with. Similarly, cultists are extremists in whatever stance they take and seek blind acceptance and obedience to their views and actions. REASONS FOR INDULGING IN CULTISM Several reasons have been forwarded to account for why people indulge in cultism. It is commonly agreed that irresponsible parenthood is one of the reasons why people indulge in cultism. Irresponsible parenthood connotes refusal of one or both parent(s) to carry out their parental obligations. This includes refusal to provide the necessary amenities of life to children such as education, food, shelter and clothing. Adolescents who lack such amenities are likely to be enticed into cultism. In another parlance, it has been opined that poor parental background is strongly related to cultism (Aina, 1999). To this school of thought poor parental background implies living below poverty line, which further connotes shortage in the availability of the necessities of life. Thus, adolescents from poor parental background are likely to be cajoled into cultism. Psychologists have held the belief that lack of self-confidence leads to belittling oneself or self-condemnation. It can therefore be assumed that lack of self-confidence is likely to lead to cultism. An adolescent who believes that he/she cannot pass examinations is very likely to indulge into cultism and other nefarious associations. In fact, lack of self-confidence can lead to self-abuse, harming oneself or even suicide. Furthermore, psychologists for a very long time have been presenting the view that there has been a very strong relationship between the behaviour of an individual and the type of company that individual keeps. In other words, peer group influence can be the reason why some adolescents indulge into cultism. In fact, if an individual keeps bad company (friends who are cult members) he is very likely to become one. The economic recession experienced in this country makes people to love money excessively. Hence, excessive love for money can lead or influence adolescents into indulging in cultism. Adolescents nowadays want to live affluent life despite the fact that they do not have the economic capability to do so. This leads them into indulging into various nefarious activities one of which is cultism. Another point connected to this is the excessive love for power. People want to win in politics by hook or crook. This makes them look for abnormal ways of winning at the poll. It is therefore not surprising if many of the cultists today are politicians. The love to acquire charms either to get women, money, positions and the like makes some people to join cultism. People love to win all the time be it in sports, place of work or any other human endeavour. This leads them to indulge in cultism. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY In this research the population was drawn from five (5) Nigerian universities: University of Ibadan (U.I); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (U.I); University of Lagos (UniLag); University of Benin (UniBen); University if Nigeria (UNN). 200 student-subjects were used in the research in each university as research samples. There was 98% questionnaire return. Some selected variables were used. The variables included age, lack of instructional facilities, lecturer absenteeism, socio-economic background and drug abuse. An adapted Likert Scale opinionnaire was used as research instrument. Chi Square was used as statistical tool.