ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was  to examine the pioneer newspaper campaigns and the fight against campus cultism in AKSU, Obio Akpa campus. The objectives of  this study were; to ascertain the extent of awareness of student of AKSU, Obio akpa campus to Pioneer campaigns against cultism, to examine the adequacy of the content of  Pioneer newspaper in the fight against cultism, to determine the perception of the student of AKSU Obio Akpa campus to Pioneer newspaper  Campaigns against cultism and to ascertain if the pioneer newspaper campaign against cultism has reduce the unlawful cultism activitieis in AJSU, Obio Akpa, campus.  The study made used survey research design, the sample for this study was 300 and simple random sampling technique was used to administer the questionnaire to the respondent. The findings of this study revealed that ; the students of AKSU Obio Akpa campus are aware of the Pioneer newspaper campaign in the fight against cultism, the Pioneer newspaper content in the fight against cultism is very effective, the student of AKSU Obio Akpa campus perceive  pioneer newspaper campaign against cultism as educative, Pioneer newspaper campaign reduce unlawful cultism activities through portrait and image display, publishing arrested cultist by relevant force regularly and through powerful commentaries on cultism. Therefore the researcher recommended that apart from the effort of the media the stakeholder and the force should put more force to eradicate this menace

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page              –         –         –         –         –         –         –         i

Certification          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ii

Dedication             –         –         –         –         –         –         –         iii

Acknowledgement           –         –         –         –         –         –         iv

Table of contents   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         v-vii

List of tables          –         –         –         –         –         –         –         viii

Abstract       –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the study –         –         –         –         –         1-4

1.2     Statement of the problem           –         –         –         –         4-5

1.3     Objectives of the study    –         –         –         –         –         5

1.4     Research questions          –         –         –         –         –         6

1.5     Scope of the study –         –         –         –         –         –         6

1.6     Significance of the study –         –         –         –         –         6-7

1.7     Limitation of the study    –         –         –         –         –         7-8

1.8     Definition of terms          –         –         –         –         –         8-9

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1     Concept of Cultism-         –         –         –         –         –         10-11

2.2     History of Cultism in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions- –         12-14

2.3     Prevalence of Cultism on Campuses-   –         –         –         14-17

2.4     Causes of Cultism in Nigeria Higher Institutions-    –         17-19

2.5     Effect of Cultism in Nigeria Tertiary Institution –    –         19-21

2.6     Solutions to the Menace of Campus Secret Cults-             21-22

2.7     Theoretical Framework – –         –         –         –         –         23-25

2.8     Review of Study-   –         –         –         –         –         –         25-26

CHAPTER THREE      

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1     Research Design    –         –         –         –         –         –         27

3.2     Population of the study    –         –         –         –         –         27

3.3     Sample and sampling procedure          –         –         –         27-28

3.4     Instrumentation      –         –         –         –         –         –         –         28-29

3.5     Validity and Reliability of instrument –         –         –         –         29

3.6     Method of data Analysis  –         –         –         –         –         –         30

CHAPTER FOUR        

DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1     Data presentation and Analysis –         –         –         –                   31-37

4.2     Discussion of findings     –         –         –         –         –         –         37-39

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     Summary     –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         40

5.2     Conclusion –         –         –         –         –         –         –         –         41

5.3     Recommendation   –         –         –         –         –         –         –         41

References

Appendix

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Distribution of Respondent by Gender       –         –         –

Table 2: Age Distribution of Respondents

Table 3: Responses  on the awareness of

Obio Akpa awareness of Pioneer newspaper           –         –         –

Table  4: Responses on the effectiveness of the content

of Pioneer newspaper in the fight against cultism    –         –         –

Table 5: Responses on the perception of Pioneer

newspaper campaign against cultism   –         –         –         –         –

Table 6: Responses on how the Pioneer newspaper

campaign has reduce unlawful cultism activities      –         –         –         –

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Cultism is undeniably one of the social vices setting the hand of the developmental clock of Nigeria backwards.  The atrocities of secret cults in the Nigerian educational institutions and even in the wider Nigerian society continue to take tolls on the lives of young and old Nigerians. Many young people, politicians, academics and industrialists have been hacked down in their prime by the cultists. It could be in the execution of a contract to assassinate and waste the life of their mentor’s real or imagined often political enemy. Acting as hirelings, the cultists get their target in his residence or office or track him down on the way. In most cases, the murderers ‘escape,’ not tracked down because they are serving the powers that be. They do not face the wrath of the law because the event is linked to a political godfather, a sacred cow.

The dismayed Enugu State Development Association (ESDA) feared in 2005 that the failure of the government security apparatus to arrest and prosecute any suspects in the numerous incidences of political murder in Enugu State showed that the government had a hand in the crimes and made speaking out very risky.

More often than not, however, it is in a clash between two cult groups, the one trying to demonstrate its stronger devilish powers over the other. The cultists strike in one Nigerian educational institution today and a reprisal occurs the next day in another institution, claiming lives in both cases. Sometimes, a chain of reactions is

sparked off in many other institutions of higher learning. This depicts their synergy and network of existence and activities in a country already ravaged by underdevelopment, poverty and misery (Onoh, 2006).

Widespread corruption in high places and endemic poverty in the society are precursors of cultism in the Nigerian educational institutions. Due to poor agricultural planning, leadership ineffectiveness and mismanagement, millions of Nigerians, many of them children, are starving to death. Only about 2% of Nigerians, many of them among the present and former ruling classes, control over 60% of the nation’s financial assets, while over 70% of the Nigerian population live below the poverty line (Encarta, 2005e and Umar, 2007).

Mass media have been a major agent of socialisation and tool for social change especially now that people depends on message from mass media. The potential power of the mass media help solve social problems. Television, Radio and Print Advertising can entice people to buy a wide range of products and services, newspaper messages and advertisement influence our ideas, values and behaviour.

According to conventional wisdom, it could be possible to use mass media to get people to act on behalf of their own health and well-being or to do right things. Based on this assumption, since World War II, the Federal, State and Local Government, private foundations and other non-governmental organizations have sponsored hundreds of public services campaigns to promote social rather than commercial “goods” (Delong & Winsten, 2000).   It is not surprising then that prevention advocates would look to the mass media as an important aid in addressing the problem of cultism in society. Most media campaign focused on college students cultism which have been campus based, using a mix of posters, flyers, electronic mail messages and college newspaper advertisement. More recently a few regional, state and national media campaigns have begin to address this issue as well.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Many higher institution of learning in Nigeria today are faced with the menace of cultism. This cultism activities is based mostly in and around the school. This undesirable and pathetic structure has been bothering the statesand the country in general. The problem of campus cultism in the country has put the institution and families into serious dilemma, some student have gotten extended academic year, all because of cultism for example, a student who is suppose to use four year since the higher institution might end up using six years. At some instance, the parent lose their children a result of cultism clash and engagement in cultism mass media have inhibited some effort in creatinine awareness about the problem of cultism with a view to curbing the mince and liberating higher institution from the diabolic activities of cultist. Despite all this campaign by mass media, the impact appears to be negligible. These and many other problems warrant the study, to the effectiveness of pioneer newspaper campaigns in AKSU, Obio Akpa Campus.

1.3  Objective of the Study

1. To ascertain the extent awareness of student of AKSU, Obio Akpa Campus to pioneer, newspaper campaigns against cultism.
2. To examine the adequacy of the content of pioneer newspaper in the fight against cultism.
3. To determine to perception of the student of AKSU Obio Akpa Campus to pioneer newspaper campaigns against cultism.
4. To ascertain if the pioneer news paper campaign against cultism has reduce the unlawful cultism activities in AKSU, Obio Akpa Campus.

1.4     Research Question

1. Are the student of AKSU Obio Akpa campus aware of the pioneer against cultism.
2. How effectiveness is the content of pioneer newspaper in the fight against cultism.
3. What is the perception of the pioneer newspaper campaigns against cultism by the student of AKSU, Obio, Akpa Campus.
4. Has the pioneer newspaper campaign against cultism reduce the unlawful cultism activities in AKSU Obio Akpa campus.
5. Does the pioneer newspaper campaigns against cultism have any impact on the student of Aksu, Obio Akpa

1.5     Scope of the Study

This study focuses on pioneer message in the fight against campus cultism it is limited to Akwa Ibom State Universities Akpa campus.

1.6     Significance of the study

This research will be of no value of it would not contribute immensely a have impact on the society at large especially in the citadels of learning where this phenomenon is more predominant the management of tertiary institution within and outside Akwa Ibom State will discover this research itself as it will present their with factual and practical steps need with factual and practical steps need with in eradicating cultism in their respective school. Also student of other tertiary institution will benefit and gain adequate knowledge from the study as it will expose them to the damagers of cultism. The result of this study will add to literature and contribute to the discipline of mass communication.

1.7     Limitations of the Study

The major constraint of this work was the respondents who because of their work made it difficult to get them on seats for administrator and retrieval of questionnaire again. Another thing was the time constraint which had posed a lot of limitations to the work because there was not enough time to carry out the research.

However, despite the challenges, the researcher did not allow the limitations to affect the success and validity of the study, and efforts were made to conclude the study well

1.8 Definition of Terms

1. Cultism: Devotion to the doctrine or the practices of a cult devote commitment to same purpose the devotion of his time and wealth to science.
2. Campaign: A campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of time inorder to achieve something such as social or political change.
3. Influence: Influence is the power to change a affect someone or something the power to cause change without directly forcing them to happen.
4. Mass media: It is the primary means of communication used to reach the vast majority of the general public. The most common platforms for mass media are news paper, magazines, radio, television and the internet.