Role of Guidance Counsellors in Preventing Cultism in Tertiary Institutions in Imo State

Cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions remains a persistent threat to campus safety, academic life, and student welfare, with guidance counsellors increasingly recognised as frontline preventive agents. This study examined the role of guidance counsellors in preventing cultism in tertiary institutions in Imo State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with 90 counsellors and student affairs officers and 320 students from four tertiary institutions in Owerri and Orlu participating. The Counsellor Anti-Cultism Role Scale and the Cult Membership Risk Inventory were administered. Data were analysed using means, frequencies, and correlation analysis. Findings indicated that counsellors were perceived as playing a minimal but potentially influential role in cultism prevention, primarily through orientation talks and occasional group discussions. Structured ongoing prevention programmes were absent in most institutions. Students who had engaged meaningfully with counselling services reported lower cult membership risk scores and stronger anti-cult attitudes. Fear of retaliation and anonymity concerns were major barriers to students reporting cult activity to counsellors. The study recommended that tertiary institutions in Imo State empower counsellors with formal anti-cultism mandates, develop confidential reporting systems, and integrate cult prevention into the first-year guidance curriculum. Coordination with law enforcement was also advocated. Keywords: cultism prevention, guidance counsellors, tertiary institutions, Imo State, campus safety.