ABSTRACT
This study investigated into the Influence of Cultism on Students’ Academic Performance in Ilorin Metropolis.
Two hundred respondents participated in the study.

Four research hypotheses were generated for the study and t-test statistical method was used to analyze the data gathered with the Influence of Cultism on students’ academic performance questionnaire.

The study showed that significant relationship existed between non-funding of University library and students performance.
Also significant relationship existed between non-qualified staff and students’ performance, significant relationship existed between inadequate relevant resources and students’ performance and significant relationship exist between staff motivation and students performance.
It was therefore recommended that qualified library staff must be well equipped with relevant equipment, the library should be well equipped while there should be opportunity for future development of the library.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Cultism is a secret organization formed by students while in the school, most especially in the tertiary institution.
Molagun (2003) defined cultism as a religious group often based on immediate emotional experience rather than on a throughout ideology of most world religions Beth (1982).

Advanced Oxford Dictionary defines cultism as a term coined out of the word cult, and that cultism is an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religions.
Cultism has become one of the major problems confronting most of our tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

It is not an over statement to say that Nigeria’s educational system is on the verge of collapse if nothing is done by the government, school authorities, students and the society in general to stop cultism in our tertiary institutions.
Cultism have been known to have caused many havocs in our tertiary institutions as members engage themselves in brutal killing of other fellow students, harassing of lecturers, raping, destruction of school properties and causing violence in the school campuses thus, making the school environment unconducive for learning.
The effects of secret cults in schools are numerous. Such cult had newer dimension to the educational problems we already have.

The rate at which cults are causing disruptions in the smooth running of various institutions of learning is assuming an alarming proportion.

For example, in the wake of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the 90’s, there has been a great rise in the dastardly activities of the cults in as recorded on the pages of various national dailies.

To help us appreciate the negative effects of cults in our institutions, we examine a well documented newspaper report and other eye witness accounts as recorded in Olaoye (1996), five occult members were shot dead by members of rival secret cult at the university of Benin, one was shot dead while thirty got drowned in an attempt to escape arrest at the University of Calabar.

More so, four were shot dead at the University of Ibadan. A science laboratory was set ablaze by cult members at University of Jos. About twelve cult students among whom were two female students from tertiary institutions in Kwara State were in police custody for being in possession of dangerous weapons.

One was murdered while another was shot at the Federal Polytechnic Offa.

Occult members struck at the Yaba College of Technology leaving four dead in 1994, nine students of Baptist High School Abeokuta, were caught performing initiation rites for members of their cult in the midnight.

A similar incident was reported at a secondary school in Abia State where a principal caught thirteen students with guns. Moreover, nine students of Federal Government College, Indoani in Ondo State were expelled for belonging to secret cults.

Occults members also struck at the College of Education in Ila-Orangun leading to destructions of properties. Bulus, (2003).

The moral decadence in our tertiary institutions can be traced to the family, which is an institution that permits safe guarding of the child during the period of biological immaturity and also provide for the child’s primary socialization and initial education.

Parenthood is rapidly becoming a highly self conscious vocation Mitchell, (1996) and it is in the realm of inter-personal relationships and social interactions that the self conscious operates.
Musgrave (1996) has emphasized that the claims which schools make concerning their impact upon children characters are probably both extravagant and unfounded that they are in general of negligible influence.

The real prime and lasting influence is in home and if there is a deprivation here (i.e. materially, mentally or spiritually there will be some form of deprivation in the personality of the child Bowlby (1995) described that observation of several deprived children demonstrated that their conscience and potentialities were not developed.

The family molds the personality of a child throughout his school life.

The question now arises, what are the factors responsible for the causes of cultism in our tertiary institutions and how has cultism influence the students in our tertiary institutions?
People differ in their opinions some blame the cause on the parents while some blame the cause on school authorities while others are of the views that the students themselves and even the government are not helping matters as regards the issue of cultism in our tertiary institutions.
Our assumption in this study therefore are many factors, on why students join cultism such as students socio-economics background, search for self-image or self-esteem and student desire to belong.

It is also assumed that inferiority complex on the part of the students has a lot to do with cultism in tertiary institutions.

It is assumed also that the influence of home environment, peer group pressures and many other factors are all contributory factors that cause cultism in our tertiary institutions, now that the research is out to find out the influence of cultism on students academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis.

It is assumed that at the end, the result of this study will bring awareness not only to the school authorities and the parent but to the population at large, thereby giving enlightenment on how influence of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin Metropolis can be curbed in our tertiary institution.

Statement of the Problem
It is often said that education is the greatest legacy any parent can bestow on his child. We all know that youth of today are the future leaders of tomorrow.

If this being the case, there is need for youths to be properly guided and adequately educated to desist from cultism in tertiary institutions for them to be responsible leaders and citizens of Nigeria.

Cultic activities could disturb serious academic program, because of its fear and terror, there is need to find out why students joint it and its effect on the academic performance of its members, thus, the problem of the study.

Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cultism on students’ academic performance in Ilorin metropolis.

It also sought to find out if:
1. There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the male and female students’ performance.
2. There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and old students.
3. There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students.
4. There is any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents.
General Questions
What is the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students’?

Research Questions
The following research questions guided the study.
1. Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female students?
2. Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and adolescents?
3. Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students?
4. Is there any difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents?

Research Hypothesis
The following hypotheses were tested in the study.
1. There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of male and female students.
2. There is no significant difference in the influence of cultism on the academic performance of young and old students.
3. There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism on the academic performance of Christian and Muslim students.
4. There is no significant difference on the influence of cultism in the academic performance of students from literate and illiterate parents.

Significance of the Study
The result of this study will help to fore-see what is likely to happen to our academic performance in future if cultism is not put in control.

It would also help to find out the other contributory factors that lead students to cultism in academic performances.
The study will enlighten the parents, the school authorities and the society at large about those factors that cause cultism and its impact.

The research also offers a food for thought for the government, educationists, journalists and suggestion for improvement.
Further still, the research could serve as spring board for other investigations.