Education Secretary of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Rev. Fr. Maximus Okonkwo has issued a stern warning to students to shun any act of cultism as they prepare to resume school on Monday.
Addressing a crowd of students from different schools at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, during the 2023 Help for All Foundation Day event, Fr. Okonkwo expressed his concern over the increase in cultism among students and called for urgent action to curb the menace.
Fr. Okonkwo stressed the need for school authorities to set up a monitoring team to ensure that cultism and other related vices were totally eradicated from schools. He also called on parents to take responsibility for their children’s upbringing and discipline them appropriately. He pointed out that charity begins at home, and parents should be the first line of defense against cultism and other forms of societal vices.
Furthermore, Fr. Okonkwo called on the government to enforce stricter disciplinary measures on members of cult groups when apprehended. He lamented the negative effect of cultism on education and society and urged all stakeholders to prioritize the fight against the menace.
The call by Fr. Okonkwo on students to shun cultism is timely, given the increase in cult-related activities in recent times in Awka. A recent report by the Anambra State Anti-Cult group revealed that cultism and other related vices had become prevalent in schools, especially at the secondary and tertiary levels.
The report, which was published earlier this year, showed that the number of cult-related activities had tripled in the last five years, with an alarming increase in the number of students involved. The report attributed the upsurge in cultism to the proliferation of illegal drugs and the corrupt practices of some school officials, who connive with cult groups to terrorize students.
In his reaction to Fr. Okonkwo’s call to shun cultism, Sir J. Ogo Ezeono, the Chairman of the Catholic Teachers Association, commended the Education Secretary for taking a bold step towards fighting cultism. He praised Fr. Okonkwo for his unwavering commitment to the cause and for always speaking up against societal vices, which is in tandem with the Catholic Church’s teachings.
ANN discovered that the issue of cultism and hard drugs remains a major challenge in the education sector in Anambra State. Thus, a concerted effort is required from all stakeholders to tackle the menace and ensure a safe learning environment for students even as experts believe that the menace of cultism and other related vices, if left unchecked, could have grave consequences for the future of education in the state.
The call by Fr. Okonkwo is therefore seen as a welcome development, as it will go a long way in sensitizing students and other stakeholders on the dangers of cultism.
