Nigerian Society of Criminology (Proposal)
BY
Akobi Emmanuel Ebenyin (HND, Bsc AGRIC-Econs& Rural Sociology, PGD, Msc Criminology)
aemsaakobi@yahoo.ca 08024256661
INTRODUCTION
It is a truism that Criminology as an independent discipline is relatively new in Nigeria but rapidly gaining prominence due to the present security situation.
Nigeria as a nation today has high expectations from criminologists to bring researchers and practitioners into consensus and mutual understanding of crimes in Nigeria and how best it can be controlled.
It is unfortunate that Nigerian Criminologists are yet to unify themselves to promote criminological researches. This has being the major impediment militating against the growth of criminology in Nigeria, further complicated by lack of professional mentorship of young criminological scholars, no professional identity, no workable intervention tools, methods and techniques to breach the gap between theory and practice, no unified platform for debating crime related issues such as the concept of recidivism, delinquency, criminal motivation as well the ideal definition of Crime on African context. what a delima?
Today, we have Indian Society of Criminologists, American Society of Criminology, Philippine Society of Criminologists, British Society of Criminologists etc researching and contributing greatly to the global fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in their respective countries.
Despite the present volatile security situation in Nigeria, no formalized mechanism is currently in place unify Nigerian criminologists under a viable platform to collectively contribute our intellectual endowments to the fight against criminalty and delinquency in Nigeria.
i must acknowledge the collective sacrifices and efforts of National Association of Criminology and security studies Students in promoting criminology in Nigeria. keep the flag flying. you would always be remembered in the history development of criminology in Nigeria.
The question begging for answer is what are criminology practitioners doing respect the promotion of criminological research in Nigeria? it is too difficult to initiate a formidable platform where issues of common interest affecting all criminologists and our dear nation can be debated upon?
As against background, i am of the convinced without doubt that there is an ur need for the establishment Nigerian Society of Criminology, a multi-disciplinary forum to serve the nation through earnest efforts of dissemination of criminological knowledge and field experiences and on the basis of such scholarly and scientific discourse, exchange of knowledge suggest to the relevant Government organization and legislators the corrective and preventive measures to curb crime and delinquency in Nigeria.
The Society shall further the interests and knowledge of both academic and professionals who are engaged in any aspect of work or teaching, research or public education about crime, criminal behavior and the criminal justice systems in Nigeria and thus, foster criminological scholarship, research, education and training, and to encourage scholarly, scientific and practical exchange and cooperation among criminologists in Nigeria.
Members shall pursue scholarly, scientific, and professional knowledge concerning the measurement, etiology, consequences, prevention, control, and treatment of crime and delinquency.
In specific terms, the aims and objectives of the Society shall include the following:
a. To advance the study and application of Criminology in crime control in Nigeria.
b. To facilitate and encourage contact among persons, groups or organizations interested in promoting the study of criminology.
c. To provide an effective means for Nigerian scientists to contribute to international scientific and technological knowledge in the area of Criminology.
d. To serve as an impartial, non-political and non-profit making association whose purpose is to promote Criminology in Nigeria. These includes promoting educational program in criminology and finding job avenues for criminology graduate, creating criminology research centers and advise the governments of Nigeria on policy issues on crime, justice and victimization.
e. Provide a scientific exchange among its members and others by collecting and disseminating information through publications, correspondence, exhibits, regional and international seminars, symposia, conferences and also, assist in efforts to co-ordinate or guide research, development and evaluation activities related to criminology.
Fellow Criminologists feel free to join the campaign "esprit de corp"