Lagos moves to curb cultism, other vices in tertiary institutions

Civic

Left – Right, Permanent Secretary Office of Civic Engagement, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, LASU, Prof. Olumiyiwa Noah, Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Mr. Wale Ajao at a sensitization program on Social Vices for Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State at Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo on Tuesday.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde; Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, LASU, Prof. Olumiyiwa Noah; Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Mr. Wale Ajao at a sensitization programme on Social Vices for Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State at Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo on Tuesday.

By Benson Michael

The Lagos State Government has moved to halt cultism and other social vices in tertiary institutions across the state.

Officials of the Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement were at the Lagos State University, LASU on Tuesday on a sensitization programme on curbing social vices.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said there was need for all to address the issue of social vices in the State’s tertiary institutions with a view to jointly proffering solutions to the menace such vices constituted to the school and the society at large.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that our tertiary institutions have been bedeviled by cultism, drug abuse, rape, indecent dressing, and examination malpractices to mention just a few. Peer influence and pressure are excuses of students’ participation in these vices.

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“Over the years, these vices particularly cultism, drug abuse and rape have been very rampant in our schools of higher learning, all sorts of acts that violate societal norms and values are being perpetrated brazenly. Safety of lives and property could no longer be guaranteed on the campuses as students engage in cult war, attacking and killing one another in the broad -day light, girls are being gang raped and drugs become a common phenomenon among students.

“These malaise is fast spreading to the larger society as we now witness cult-related killings in our communities. The resultant effect of these are the sorrow and anguish suffered by parents who may have lost their children, loss of valuable time as a result of school closure, development of mental related ailments due to drug abuse and disruption of economic and social activities in communities as cult related killings are now everywhere,” she said.

She said institutions of higher learning like any other world-wide were designed to prepare youths for positive contributions to the society in any capacity they might find themselves in the near future, but that what “we see today is in the breach of the societal expectations. Something must be done; and done urgently, if we will salvage our State and by extension this nation from this inglorious path. Hence, these attitudes will impact negatively on their future which they may end up regretting.”

According to her, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was determined to halt the trend of cultism and reposition the state’s tertiary institutions to meet the desired standards.

In the same vein, Chairman of the programme and Commander, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, DCP Tunji Disu, who was represented by ACP Wale Ajao (2IC), RRS  said the students must be trained on social media usage.
He said with proper training on positive usage of social media, a lot of students would be re-oriented as this was a source that greatly influenced them.
Disu said the RRS was not just interested in the arrest of students found wanting but to ensure that they undergo proper processes of becoming better citizens.
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Civil Rights and Institutional Reforms Advocate, Segun Awosanya during his presentation added that the students needed to have a focus, understand their virtues and be ready for a bigger future.

Awosanya also urged the Lagos Government to actively engage the student in programmes that would make them better.
He, however, urged the law enforcement agency to stop harassing students, noting that pointing wrong fingers at them would not help their self-esteem and would further make them feel offended by the authorities.
Reacting to the importance of the programme, Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, Academics, LASU, Prof. Noah Olumuyiwa commended the Lagos State Government for initiating the programme.
He said it showed the current government is available to listen to students and however urged the students to support Governor Sanwo-Olu-led administration.
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