CULTIST ACTIVITIES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: COUNSELLING INTERVENTIONS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated cultist activities among undergraduate students and counselling interventions in kogi state, Nigeria Descriptive research design was used for this study The study covered all degree awarding institutions in Kogi state: The population of this study was made up of 30 lecturers, 30 professional counsellors and 260 undergraduate students through Bi-sampling techniques: Proportional sampling techniques and stratified random sampling techniques. Self-constructed questionnaire containing 42 items was designed by the researchers to elicit information from the respondents. The instrument was validated by four experts in the field of Educational Psychology, Measurement and Evaluation while the reliability of the instrument was established using test-retest method. The data ware analysed using mean scores to determine the levels of agreement and disagreement of 2.50+ and 2.50- respectively. The study revealed among others that, quest for protection, peer group influence, broken homes are causes of cultism. Having unique dressing style, slogan, bringing in new members, appointment of mentors, inscriptions of different designs on the bodies of the members, indulge in secret meetings are identified as characteristics of cultism and cultist activities negatively affect the academic performance. The study recommends among others that, ABC counselling techniques of Albert Ellis, Anomie theory, employment of qualified counsellors, Periodical counselling of students and parents, Orientation and periodical reorientation of students should be embarked on in the Universities