Although Criminology as an independent discipline in Nigeria is relatively new, the expectation of support from Criminologists to bring researchers and practitioners to a consensus and mutual understanding on the issues of crimes in Nigeria and how best it can be controlled is undoubtedly high.
However, despite the high expectations from Nigerian Criminologists and the present volatile security situation in Nigeria, no formalized arrangement to the best of my knowledge currently exist to unify all Nigerian criminologists under a viable platform to collectively contribute our intellectual endowment to curb crime and delinquency in Nigeria.
Professional mentoring of young criminological scholars is completely non-existing, no professional identity, no workable intervention tools; method and techniques to breach the gap between theory and practice and above all lack of unified platform for debating crime related issues such as the concept of recidivism, criminal motivation as well as the ideal conception of crime on African context.
According to Prof Darlington, Criminology has not adequately been formally defined in Nigeria. As criminologists and those interested in this field of study, we have not debated the conceptual issues of what the term ‘Criminology’ would refer to in the Nigerian Context. I believe that this paucity of information on criminology in Nigeria can be eliminated once the Nigerian Society of Criminology has been formally established, to provide the forum for such formalized debate. We must note that this cannot be properly and formally actualized in and by any other gathering or organization. We, as criminologists and interested persons in the field of criminology have to come together in a forum and decide what the term criminology means in Nigeria and what theories will support our research endeavors based on our peculiar environment and circumstances, which are often different in many instances from those of other countries, particularly those in the western world.
Criminology Society such as the Indian Society of Criminologists, American Society of Criminology, Philippine Society of Criminologists, British Society of Criminologists etc are researching and contributing greatly to the global fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in their respective countries and thus, highly celebrated as true heroes of the society.
Against this background, I am of the opinion that there is no better time for the establishment of Nigerian Society of Criminologists than now.
A Society capable of creating 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 discourses and exchange of knowledge, suggest to the relevant Government organization and legislators the corrective and preventive measures to curb crime and delinquency.
A Society with the aim of furthering the interests and knowledge of both academic and professional people 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 criminology 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.
On this note, I hereby present my submissions for your scrutiny and reactions.
Thanks
(Akobi Emmanuel Ebenyin HND,Bsc Agric-Econs & Rural Sociology, PGD, Msc Criminology)
ebenyinakobi@gmail.com, aemsaakobi@yahoo.ca