Cultism: A Destructive Concept in the Educational Development of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

Security threat has for long constituted a major impediment to the smooth academic pursuit in Nigeria. It is an understatement to say that the environment devoid of peace cannot enhance a meaningful learning. The threat to human lives and properties has escalated beyond mere imagination with the spate of violence of all forms including assassination, robbery, theft, burglary and murder. The tertiary institutions in Nigeria have not been left out of this serious threat to the breakdown of law and order. Cultism has become a major social problem in the Nigerian tertiary institutions as its activities and mode of operation are usually shrouded in secrecy and are inimical to the interests of the institutions in particular and the society in general. This unfortunately has to do with the menace of secret cults. Relevant literatures were gathered for this study through secondary source of data. The findings of the study are the lack of the fear of God, lack of parental guidance, god fatherism influence etc. are some hindrance to the eradication of secret cults. It was therefore recommended that the eradication of secret cult demands the total commitment of all the elements of social structure; school, religious institutes, government and the society.