Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Some form of revival and ethical reorientation has crept into Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, with the declaration of war against cultism and other social vices in the institution.
Recently, the Anambra State government-owned university had become a hotbed for cultism as young and exuberant students started flexing muscles over which group was superior.
Before one could fathom what was going on, the supremacy battle led to killings and counter killings thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and apprehension within the university community.
Such was the scenario until the new helmsman, Prof. Greg Nwakoby took over in acting capacity on March 12. In what looked like a ‘welcome gift’ to him, two students were killed by rival cult groups on campus less than one month after.
Apparently not comfortable with the situation, Nwakoby immediately put on his thinking cap and fashioned out a process of containing the situation. This entailed reorientation of the students towards imbibing the right attitude and positive societal values.
With the help of clerics from different religious denominations who are also staff of the university in various disciplines, the efforts crystalised into an open interdenominational church service where the cultists allegedly repented of their sins and also came out in the open in total surrender and renounced their membership of such deadly groups.
At first, when an Anglican priest, Ven. Joshua Onuora was delivering the sermon at the open field of the old site of the university, many thought that none of the confraternity members will muster courage to come out in the full glare of the crowd to surrender but when the altar call was made, many of the secret cult members touched by the message took the bold step and sauntered into the middle of the open field.
Though not all of them made the moves at the same time, by the time the priest started praying for them with series of deliverance prayers, no fewer than 55 of them were all standing, face down and hands up in absolute surrender.
The acting vice chancellor said a new dawn had come in the institution for those who will embrace it.
“It is totally appalling that parents will send their children to school to gain knowledge and come home with good certificates that will make them gainfully employed only for such parents to receive the corpses of their children instead all because of cultism,” he stated.
Nwakoby explained that such ugly scenario prompted him to work towards creating interactive forum where the university community would be rededicated to God and also an avenue of rescuing souls.
According to him, just as the preacher talked about Jeremiah who prophesised to dead bones and they came back to life, 55 formerly dead souls have been given new life by God again in the university.
He reminded the students that their primary aim in the university was to get educated, stressing that they would be issued certificates at graduation only if they were found worthy in learning and character.
While declaring war against cultism, sorting, examination malpractice and all other social vice vices plaguing the university system, he also warned the students to report any lecturer who engaged in any form of unwholesome practices, including sale of self-authored books as well as sexual harassment even as he released two dedicated phone lines where they can reach him for any complaint.
He, therefore, declared last Friday of every month as Students’ Day with the Vice Chancellor where they can have unfettered access to him in his office for any issue bordering on their welfare and academic matters.
“For you to earn a university degree you must be studious and your sense of industry must not be quantified. You must work hard and there are things that can deny you the opportunity of having a university degree. Those things are obvious and for those who are members of secret cult, some of them will be ruined before their graduation. Some are maimed, some in detention and some have died. We are not happy when our students are arrested for cultism, rather we should be happy when one of us is awarded an academic prize for excellence,” he said.
Earlier in a heartrending sermon, a cleric and lecturer in the Accountancy Department, Ven. Joseph Onuora reminded the students of the availability of both destiny helpers and destroyers as well in the campus but enjoined them to follow the virtuous way that leads to success in life instead of destruction.
Signing of the renunciation form and pledges of good conduct among the repentant cultists formed the highlights of the ceremony.
One of the repentant cultists, who gave his name as simply Emmanuel told our correspondent that a huge burden has been taken away from mind as he could now mix and relate freely with other students. He explained that before now, he would even monitor his own shadow anywhere he went.