Impact of Radio and Television Campaign Against Cultism in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to find out the strategies of using the mass media in the fight against cultism in secondary schools in Abakaliki Urban. Specifically, the study will find out:
- To ascertain the role of the mass media in the fight against cultism
- To determine the impact of secret cult activities on the academic performance of students in Abakaliki Urban.
- To determine the ways of improving the media messages for best result in waging war against cultism.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
In this chapter, to facilitate a better understanding of the study, related literatures on the topic are reviewed.
Conceptual Framework Concept of Cultism
It has never been easy to give a comprehensive definition of the term ‘Cult’. This is because the term cultism could be applied to a wide range of groups and could convey different meaning by different users. Okwu (2006) cited Denga (1991) where the author defined cultism as a system of religious belief and practices or ideology. Also, Orukpe (1998) noted that ‘Cults are a group of people who share and propagate peculiar secret beliefs divulged only to Member’.
Occultism or possession of mystical power is often associated with cults. The veracity of this is difficult to ascertain because of their secret modus operandi. Cult can be seen as a group of people that are devoted to a particular cause. In real sense cult per se is not evil, it is rather the anti-societal behaviour of its members that make it to be evil and a cause of concern to society.
According to the Free Encyclopedia (2010), the literal and traditional meaning of the word ‘Cult’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Cultus’ meaning ‘Care’ or ‘Adoration’. To the sociologist of religion, the term is used to describe ‘a loosely knit organization not characterized by tolerance and open mindedness in matter of belief and practice, while in the media and everyday conversion the word suggests a spurious, secretive, sinister and harmful group’ (Albatross , 2006). Lalich and Langone (2006) made the following remarks about the behaviour of cultists – the group displays excessively zealous and unquestionable commitment to its leader and regards his belief system, ideology and practices as the truth. The authors noted that questioning, doubts and dissents are discouraged or even punished.
Rotimi (2005) asserted that the secret cult phenomenon is not new in Africa. Citing Aguda (1997), the author observed that activities of secret cults, like ‘Human Leopards’ and ‘Human crocodiles’, have been recorded in Central Africa. Furthermore in citing Thomas (2002), the author stated that cultist groups enjoy subtle support and patronage from both government and school authorities. Cult members were sometimes used by politicians for revenge and for setting personal scores. He went on to state that in some cases, past members who had migrated to foreign countries some times remitted money to support their former cult groups.
Campus Cultism
Cultism is an anti-social behaviour which is a deviant act. It is at variance with the established norms of behaviour. It is a non-conforming behaviour which usually contravenes the social rules of an institution in particular and the society in general. In spite of the negative consequences of cultism, it still thrives. Literature showed that secret societies have a mode of operation and behaviour by which they can identify as not only groups but secret groups.
According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Enactment) Decree 1978 … “A secret society means a cultural or association, not being solely secret signs, oaths, rites or symbols whose meetings are under oath, obligation to promote the interest of its members or to aid one another under all circumstances without due regard to merit, fair play or justice, to the detriment of the legitimate expectation of those who are not members.” The nature of secret cults is as much practicable shrouded in secrecy by members. This fact was appreciated by Nwanze (1991 and 1994). They observed that they all shared one thing in common. They operated secretly and their activities and sign were decidedly esoteric to the uninitiated.
Evidence by the leader of the society and also the 1st accused, which was corroborated by that of nine other prosecuting witnesses, explained how the meeting venue of the society was made inaccessible to non-members thereby concealing the nature of the meeting. Admission of new of the members was through a written application. The applications are normally destroyed at initiation for security reasons.
Hierarchy in operation and responsibility is strongly adhered to. The leader of the fraternity is called a “Body Guard”. The member who performs the initiation is called “Bishop”. There are advisers called “Consiglory”. Rules and regulations are enforced down the line. The initiation venue is called “House” is out of knowledge of new members and no two new members know themselves and they do not know the old members except the one receiving the application from the new member who also introduce the new initiate to the society.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this chapter, we would describe how the study was carried out.
Research design
Research Design: The survey research design was employed in the study. This method involves the use of the questionnaire to gather data from a specific sample selected for the study. Fawole [2002] defines survey method as an “Attempt to determine the incidence distribution and interrelatedness among sociological and physiological variable”. The benefit of this study as stated by Adewale [2004] is that it will serve as a process of gathering data from a target population through the questionnaire and subjecting such data to statistical analysis for the purpose of reaching conclusions on the subject matter of study and proving solutions to identified research problems..
Sources of Data
The data for this study were generated from two main sources; Primary sources and secondary sources. The primary sources include questionnaire, interviews and observation. The secondary sources include journals, bulletins, textbooks and the internet.
Population of the study
A study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description (Prince Udoyen: 2019). In this study the study population constitute of five selected secondary schools in Abakaliki Urban of Ebonyi State. The total of the secondary school students selected for this study is 4488 from which the sample was drawn.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND FINDINGS
The presentation of result and findings made from this study. A total of 367 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the sample students to the selected secondary school in Abakaliki Urban. The questionnaire had a hundred percent return. The research questions were taken one after the other as can be seen from the presentation below.
From the table above, the respondents agreed on three items of the questionnaire. It follows that the items have recorded mean score rating above the cut off mark of 2.50. This indicates that all the items presented in the table constitute the roles the media play in the fight against cultism in secondary schools.
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
At the end of the study, the four research questions were answered. Research Question 1 sought to know the roles the mass media can play in the fight against cultism in secondary schools in Abakaliki Urban. It was discovered that the mass media can fight cultism by leading the campaign against further spread of cults activities in editorials, cartoons, commentaries etc. again by perceiving cult activities as ‘war’ against humanity which must be fought and allowing the public to know the latest about cult activities and what the media can do to help fight cultism.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of findings
The result of the data analyzed underscores the fact that the Radio and Television have a lot of role to play in the fight against cultism in secondary schools in Afipko North Government Area of Ebonyi State. The role ranges from allowing the public know the latest about cult activities to seeing cult activities as ‘war’ against humanity which must be fought at all cost. Also, the factors responsible for students joining cults are peer pressure, curiosity/adventure, security, toughness, parental influence and so on.
The principal finding is that:
- The mass media with their report and campaign can stem the tide of cultism in secondary schools.
- Most secret cult members withdraw from school because of poor academic performance.
- Some students join secret cult because they want to belong to the happening group.
- Most parents are less concerned about the activities of their children in school.
Conclusion
The study has examined the role of the Radio and Television in the fight against cultism, the negative impacts of cult activities, the motivational factors that encourage them to join and the influence of parents on their children joining secret cults. Cultism has done a lot of harm than good to our Educational System. There is irregular attendance to classes by students. It has increased the spate of violence, rape and strike action. It has brought about school closure, disturbance on lesson and above all, the untimely death of both students and teachers.
Recommendations
To fight cultism in our secondary schools, the following recommendations were made:
- Proper orientation or awareness programmes must be conducted frequently by the mass media. It should bother most on the negative impact of cultism.
- The school curriculum should be loaded with the activities to keep the students busy.
- Parents should resist from forcing their children to join secret cults.
- The activities of secret cult members should be sanctioned and abolished completely.
- Government and the law enforcement agent must do their work properly by bringing any students caught involving in cult activities to book.
REFERENCES
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- Ajakaye, D.O., 2002. Paths to the Sustainability of Higher Education in Nigeria, 3(7).
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- Akinfeleye (ed) Contemporary Issues for Development & National Security, Lagos: Unimedia Publications Limited. Akinyele, S.O., 1996. A Socio-Psychological Exploration of Secret Cult Membership.
- Awe, O., 1987. “Before my very eyes” in Adelugha D (ed.) Before our eyes. Ibadan: Spectrum Book Limited.
- Coleman, R., 2005. Bullets as Bacteria: Television News Magazines; Television Magazine use of the Public Health Model for Reporting Violence” in Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, 6(1).
- Eberendu, A.C., 1999. Arresting the Evil called Campus Cult. Lagos, Nigeria. Frigate Limited. Edwin,S., 1950. Principles of Criminology (3 edition)rd Philadelphia, JB LippinCott.
