Awareness and believability of the ‘Oke-ite’ money ritual charm efficacy claims on Facebook by Anambra Youths. A Study of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Undergraduates

Abstract

The advent of Social media particularly the facebook platform has enhanced the way individuals interact with each other. It is a platform where individuals especially the youths showcase themselves in order to draw admiration and attention to their lives and it is equally an avenue where entrepreneurs ply their goods and services to get patronage. The Get- rich- quick syndrome that is prevalent amongst Nigerian youths today has led many youths to seek for wealth and validation through engaging in money rituals. Research has shown that many youths especially University undergraduate students engage in anti-social behaviours like cybercrime and blood rituals to make quick money in order to imitate their rich peers. Most of these money making rituals are advertised through facebook videos by native doctors and spiritualists who make claims of its efficacy and popular among them is the Oke-ite money ritual charm. This study therefore seeks to find out the awareness and believability of the efficacy claims of the oke-ite money ritual by Anambra youths using Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Undergraduates as the study population. Anchored on the Technological Determinism theory, the study employs the Survey method for the research design and the Questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. Findings indicate that most Anambra youths are aware of the facebook videos of the efficacy claims on the Oke-ite money ritual by spiritualists and native doctors and believe in its efficacy while some believe that such rituals can only be effective for a short period of time as it comes with its attendant problems. The study therefore recommends amongst others the need for relevant stakeholders to create awareness especially through the facebook platforms on the dangers of engaging in money rituals by the youths and emphasize on the need for parents and the society at large to question their children and wards whenever they acquire sudden wealth.