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Tag: cultism

  • Soludo to NDLEA, monarchs: join forces to eradicate Mkpurumiri, kidnapping, cultism

    Soludo to NDLEA, monarchs: join forces to eradicate Mkpurumiri, kidnapping, cultism

    Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has charged corps members deployed to the state for their national service to shun cultism, drug addiction, substance abuse, cybercrime, kidnapping, and other negative tendencies.

    He called on law enforcement agents, traditional and religious rulers, and town unions, to join forces in stamping out the vices in the state.

    Declaring open the 2023 Batch ‘C’ Stream I Orientation Course on Tuesday, November 7, at the NYSC permanent camp in Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, Soludo decried that such vices, rather than promote individuals and societies, degrade them with devastating effects on those involved.

    He also revealed the launching of a coding skill training tagged “Coach Anambra programme” in two weeks’ time, urging corps members not good at coding and IT skills to tap into the opportunities.

    He said: “This is the state that is promoting that. Our Solution Innovation District is also piloting affairs of entrepreneurial skills for innovation and acquisitions for various digital skills.

    “It is crystal clear that the youth form not less than 65 percent of the world population. They are equally the vibrant, energetic, innovative, and creative segment of the society. So, society holds them in high esteem.

    Read Also: Reps to Army: neutralise terrorist attack on Borno, Yobe communities

    “Therefore, my administration will leave no stone unturned to accommodate this very important part of the population and make them not only useful to themselves but beneficial to the entire society.”

    Acknowledging the immense contributions of the scheme to the development of society, particularly in areas of education, health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure, the governor pledged continued support of the operators of the scheme in the state.

    He said: “May I equally add that my doors are open to the management of the scheme and therefore can access the government house at any time of the day.

    “I have confidence in your commitment to ensuring the value re-orientation and character mould of these patriots towards a transformation that will in turn impact greatly on national development.”

    Earlier, state coordinator, Mrs Blessing Iruma disclosed that a total of 1,500 prospective corps members, comprising 714 males and 786 females were registered and had quickly adjusted to the new environment and participating actively in camp activities.

    She said: “As you are aware, the national focus for the youth appears to be on the acquisition of skills, owing to the scarcity of white-collar jobs, so, the NYSC has risen to the occasion by the introduction of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme.

    “It is, therefore, expected that every prospective corps member would acquire a skill during the nine days of SAED sensitization, lectures, and hands-on training.”

  • Youths urged to shun drug abuse, cultism

    Youths urged to shun drug abuse, cultism

    The Chairman, Badagry-West Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Joseph Gbenu, has cautioned youths in  against drugs abuse and cultism as he empowered 300 of them.

    Gbenu gave the admonition during an awards and youth empowerment programme in the council, to mark the International Youth Day celebration.

    The event was organised by the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Badagry-West Chapter, Lagos.

    Gbenu presented equipment such as rechargeable clippers, dryers, tile cutters, sewing machines, generating sets, shoe filing machines, vulcanising and grinding machines to 300 of the youths.

    According to the chairman, youths, especially those in primary and secondary schools, should stay away from cultism and drug abuse.

     “You must adhere to all your parents’ instructions and be obedient to them.

    “Stay away from drugs that are strictly prohibited in our society.

    “Always imbibe the spirit of discipline and tolerance, and ensure you participate in developing yourselves daily,” he said.

    He said his administration had promised to assist youths by providing tools and equipment to artisans who could not afford to buy tools to establish themselves.

    “But l believe that empowering our youths, who will be our leaders tomorrow, with equipment and materials will be a better option.

    “I promise that the next youth empowerment will be bigger than this year’s programme.

    “I am appealing to the beneficiaries of this empowerment not to sell the items for their selfish interest,” the council boss said.

    Read Also: Army begins three exercises to curb kidnapping, cultism, others

    Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, urged youths to prepare themselves for any opportunity that could impact positively on them.

    Ogunlende urged them to take charge of their destiny to ensure they got to their destinations.

    The commissioner, who was the guest of honour at the event, charged the youths to be of good character and seek the counsel of elders.

    Coordinator, NYCN Badagry-West LCDA Branch, Mr. David Aladeotan, said youths in the council were working towards the betterment of their beloved communities.

    According to him, the NYCN in the council has awarded scholarships to deserving students and created platforms for young entrepreneurs to thrive.

    Aladeotan said the essence of the programme was to help youths who had learned a trade such as barbing, hairdressing and fashion designing to be self-reliant.

    He said the youth week and award ceremony marked the beginning of a new era of green skills and sustainable progress in the council.

    Mr. Samuel Enilari, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the council chairman for the gesture and promised to use the items for the progress of the council.

  • Okoroji: economic woes responsible for cultism in music industry

    Okoroji: economic woes responsible for cultism in music industry

    As revelations about cultism in the music industry emerged after the death of singer MohBad, controversial movie director, Chima Okoroji has weighed in on the claims.

    Okoroji said the current happening in the industry was caused by economic downturn. He assured that it would be sanitised just it like the motion picture industry.

    He said: “What happened to Mohbad is just one in a million happenings in the entertainment industry. It is now obvious that the industry is swallowed by cultism. I remember in the early days of Nollywood when we used to assemble at Winnis in Surulere, cultism was brazenly displayed with different groups with their cliques. But because of the expansion of Nollywood, it wasn’t easy for cultism to be that relevant. 

    Read Also: Actress Mary Njoku demands justice for MohBad

    “However, it is still at a reduced level being displayed in the political angle of Nollywood. The music industry is not as wide as Nollywood which seems to be the headquarters of cultism. We need to understand that this generation of youths embraced cultism in the entertainment industry as a shade for success which is due to economic meltdown; even adults do not care about the negative effects. If the situation is not contained, many would be in worse cases than Mohbad.”

  • ‘No place for cultism, strike, activism at Naval varsity’

    The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has urged the new Vice Chancellor of the Admiralty University of Nigeria  (ADUN), Prof Paul Omaji, to ensure zero tolerance for immorality, indiscipline, drug abuse, cultism, activism and other vices.

    Vice Admiral Ibas, who is the visitor to the university, said its owners expect the institution to be one of the best globally as soon as possible, stressing that all necessary support would be given to the management to succeed.

    “You are expected to ensure that integrity, competence, transparency, good order, fairness, justice, academic excellence, good ethics and other virtues enshrined as core values in the code of conduct and the university law is upheld.   You will thus be expected to build a model institution that meets international standards, capable of developing the capacity of staff and students to attain their best possible potential,” he said.

    The Naval boss made the remarks during the presentation of appointment letter to the new Vice Chancellor at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

    He said expectations were high and urged the VC to meet them, following the guidelines provided by the institution’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

    The CNS said: “As you ponder on the way forward, rest assured that the founders and indeed, the Board of Trustees of ADUN will hand you specific key performance indicators and control measures which you will be obliged to meet and be held accountable for, periodically

    “These, among others, will enable you to institutionalise good corporate governance and internal control mechanisms to ensure probity and judicious utilisation of human, material and financial resources.

    “The founders of the university will not relent in providing the needed guidance, wherewithal and support towards evolving a university that we will all be proud of.  It is hoped that the VC will be guided by applicable laws, regulations and policies in the discharge of his responsibilities.”

    He said the new VC has the mandate to attract international and domestic support, including collaboration with reputable personalities and institutions towards enhancing standards in the university.

    He counseled the VC to employ only the most qualified workers, and the best of students to fulfil the institution’s vision.

    In his acceptance speech, Prof Omaji thanked the CNS for the appointment and pledged to carry out all the responsibilities attached to the position, consistent with the ethos of the proprietors and the business ideology of ADUN.

    He said: “I am taking this position with all the wisdom I can muster. Apart from the vision 2025, which seeks to build the university capacity to nine faculties, 81 departments, 300 programmes, 11,000 students and 778 staff in six years.

    “The vision is ‘to be internationally recognised as a university with global perspective that meets the dynamic needs of society by educating leaders, who shall value creation for the good of mankind,’” he said.

  • Three held for alleged cultism in Ogun

    The police in Ogun State at the weekend arrested three men suspected to be members of Eiye cult.

    Olagboye Abidemi, 32, Olasemojo Michael, 28, and Wasiu Waheed, 23, were nabbed at Ogijo by a team of policemen led by the Divisional Officer (DPO) Muhammed Baba, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    The suspects were said to have been apprehended during a raid of an initiation ground where detectives recovered a jack knife, blood-stained silver knife, a female pant tied with charms, among others.

    Spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the raid was in continuation of the command’s war against cultism and other crimes.

    “Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Kidnapping/Cultism Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for discreet investigation. He warned that the state will no longer be conducive for any violent group, as the command will take the battle to their doorsteps,” said Oyeyemi.

  • Three held for alleged cultism in Ogun

    The police in Ogun State at the weekend arrested three men suspected to be members of Eiye cult.

    Olagboye Abidemi, 32, Olasemojo Michael, 28, and Wasiu Waheed, 23, were nabbed at Ogijo by a team of policemen led by the Divisional Officer (DPO) Muhammed Baba, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    The suspects were said to have been apprehended during a raid of an initiation ground where detectives recovered a jack knife, blood-stained silver knife, a female pant tied with charms, among others.

    Spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the raid was in continuation of the command’s war against cultism and other crimes.

    “Police Commissioner Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspects to the Anti-Kidnapping/Cultism Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for discreet investigation. He warned that the state will no longer be conducive for any violent group, as the command will take the battle to their doorsteps,” said Oyeyemi.

  • Eight corps members renounce cultism, drug abuse in Anambra

    A total of eight corps members deployed to Anambra state for their national service on Tuesday denounced publicly their membership of cultism and drug addiction.

    No fewer than 15 of them also publicly gave up irregular migration, while others publicly embraced the Nigerian culture for the first time.

    Speaking during the closing ceremony of 2019 Batch ‘A’ orientation course at the Umunya camp, the NYSC State Coordinator, Kehinde Aremu said the achievements were recorded as result of trust and team spirit among camp officials.

    He said, “We have confidence that they have finally given up drugs especially marijuana. We also have every reason to believe that those who renounced cultism won’t go back to it again.

    “A marriage proposal of love with rings was publicly made this last Sunday between two corps members on camp.

    “Your excellency, you will be the special guest of honor when they fix their wedding date because it is Anambra wedding.

    “These are the manifestation of the spirit of Anambra, the light of the nation.”

    Aremu revealed that the repentant corps members would be handed over to the National Drug Law enforcement agencies for proper follow-up.

    He further challenged them to see themselves as revolutionary torch bearers, good ambassadors of the leading youth organization in Africa and shining examples to other youths.

    READ ALSO: Bring perpetrators, sponsors of cultism in Rivers to book, AAC’s Awara tells FG

    Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, disclosed his administration’s plan to improve the remuneration and allowances of corps members to be posted to the rural and hard-to-reach parts of the state.

    Obiano, represented by commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Bonaventure Enemali, was optimistic of the corps members’ readiness to positively elevate the fortunes of the state with their talents, education and high sense of responsibility.

    “Ample opportunity shall be given to you to contribute and excel in the implementation of government programmes, especially in areas of providing manpower for quality education, health care, agriculture, among others.

    “We shall not spare any effort in ensuring that your proven expertise and creative energy are fully harnessed towards making Anambra’s light more luminous and to improve the lives of the citizenry,” he assured.

  • Six men charged with cultism, unlawful assault

    Six men were on Monday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged assault and membership of an unlawful society.

    The defendants, Yusuf Ajose, 27; Abogun Sodiq, 32; Joseph Owolabi, 23; Kehinde Abogun, 38; Bright Marcus, 20; and Segun Joseph, 26, all residents of Igbo Efon area of Lekki, Lagos, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and membership  of an unlawful society.

    They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    According to the  Prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, the defendants committed the offences on March 9, at 5.10p.m. at Igbo Efon, Lekki.

    READ ALSO: Cultism: Shaibu orders partial shutdown of two schools in Benin

    Emuerhi said that the defendants and others still at large  conspired  and assaulted one Mr  Oluwaseun Adeshina by using a knife, cutlass and daggers to inflict injuries on his head and right leg.

    “They were also found to conduct activities of an unlawful society known as “Eiye confraternity”.

    The alleged offences contravene Sections 41, 173 (a), and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety each.

    Sule-Amzat ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and possess evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until June 3 for mention.

  • VC warns students against cultism, forgery, others

    The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, has warned students against cultism, forgery, examination malpractices and other vices throughout their stay.

    He said cultism and deviant behaviours remained an anathema and would not be tolerated.

    Speaking at the weekend during the matriculation of over 9,000 regular and Continuous Education Programme (CEP) students, Ahaneku warned that misconducts attracted expulsion.

    He listed payment of school fees and attendance of 75 per cent lectures in all courses as prerequisites for successful graduation of students.

    Ahaneku said: “You must take your studies seriously and avoid associations capable of jeopardising your future.

    “The university has provided you with congenial environment and welfare facilities for your development in character and learning.

    “These facilities include a work-aid scheme to assist indigent students who attain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.50; a Group Personal Insurance and well-equipped hostels.”

    The vice chancellor said the institution enjoyed full accreditations in all the 107 programmes across the 14 faculties.

    “The institution has linkages with universities across the world to facilitate academic programmes development, teaching/research and staff/student exchange,” he added.

  • UNN has zero tolerance for cultism, VC tells new students

    Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has warned new students of the institution of its zero tolerance for cultism and other vices.

    Ozumba gave the warning in Nsukka on Saturday during the 45th Matriculation Ceremony of the university in which 10,000 students were admitted for 2018/2019 Academic Session.

    He said that UNN had zero tolerance for cultism; exam malpractice, anti-social acts and any student caught would be expelled.

    “This university has zero tolerance for cultism and other negative misconducts and it will not hesitate to take disciplinary actions on any student found guilty.

    “It is important therefore for you to face your studies, which is your reason for coming to this university, avoid bad company and remain focused, be conscious of your behaviour as leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

    The VC said that the matriculation was historical as it will be the last time he woud be addressing matriculating students as the vice-chancellor of UNN, as his 5-years tenure ends in June.

    “This is my last matriculation address to UNN students as a vice-chancellor, as my 5-years tenure runs out in a couple of months.

    “Let me assure you that this administration considers the welfare of students and staff as an indispensable commitment

    ” I assure you that municipal service will always be given priority in all the campuses of UNN ,” he said.

    The out-going VC also commended parents for investing on their children’s education as well as choosing UNN as the institution for their wards.

    He, however, promised that the university would give their children best tertiary education.

    Some of the matriculated students in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) thanked God who made it possible for them to gain admission into UNN.

    They also promised to make their parents proud by doing well in their studies.