STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN CULTISM IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA: UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ VIEW OF THE CAUSES, EFFECTS AND SOLUTIONS

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the causes, effects and solutions to Cultism in the
Nigerian Tertiary Institutions as perceived by Undergraduate students of Faculty of
Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State. Descriptive survey design
was adopted. Three research questions were answered, and three hypotheses were tested
at 0.05 of significance. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample 150 students
from the 1,711 400 Level undergraduate students of Faculty of Education, Nnamdi
Azikiwe University Awka. The research instrument used was constructed by the
researchers and validated by experts. Data collected were analyzed using mean,
standard deviation, and t-test. Findings of the study revealed that the major cause of
cultism in tertiary institutions was inadequate funding of the University to acceptably
take care of students’ welfare, amongst others. However, the effects of cultism and
possible solutions were not clear. Based on this finding, we recommend that parents,
government and necessary stakeholders should fund the tertiary institutions adequately to
combat and ensure an efficient and effective handling of campus secret cults related
issues. Also for a future study on separate audience to further verify the possible effects
of cultism and solutions.