Nightclubbing and its Effect on Students

By Catherine Odebiyi

Clubbing is an integral part of modern culture and an irreplaceable segment of the entertainment industry. Nightclubbing, as it implies, happens during nighttime when different entertainment activities such as a dance floor, light show, and a stage for a disc jockey (DJ), etc, are being carried out.

Many students visit nightclubs in search of entertainment after the whole stressful day or week, to ease their tensions or probably heal from stress while most students see nightclubs as an avenue to enjoy themselves, meanwhile, they consciously or unconsciously emulate what others do which affects their conducts either positively or negatively.

Students attend nightclubs because it is a form of live interactive entertainment in an environment that maximizes all sense of humor. Imagine when you are out on the dance floor, you feel the melody of sounds flow with vibes and sometimes it is indescribable.

Clubbers like the feeling of blending with others, engaging in excessive drinking of alcohol, smoking, and absorption of hard drugs at the detriment of their health, relationships, and academic work. This is where many social problems arise and at the same time, promising destinies are being destroyed.

Based on research, it was revealed that nightclubbing is one of the reasons for students' poor academic performance and the increase in school dropouts. Also, having late-night parties, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs cause a mental breakdown of students and results in not being able to concentrate on studies, even on their day-to-day activities. 

Night clubs have always been termed places of violence where conflicts and evil activities occur. As a result of students being introduced to alcohol and drugs, various cases of violence are seen among students in schools, most especially higher institutions. Apart from societal issues and criminal activities, students are prone to suffer health diseases from an early age.

However, research revealed that the Ondo State Government under the administration of Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday, 8th of July, had once placed a ban on nightclubbing. The Governor said relevant security agencies have been briefed and directed to carry out this renewed directive. The ban was imperative due to continued rising cases of insecurity in the state, especially in Akure, the state capital.

Governor Akeredolu further said that some cases of insecurity have been traced to unidentified groups and nightclub activities, especially those with locations on the major roads.

Speaking with some students of Adekunle Ajasin University, they relayed their views about nightclubbing and its effects on student academic performance.

Akinbani Jane, a 400-level student from the Department of English Studies, said nightclubbing is an act that does not portray being a good child and that students go to nightclubs to molest themselves and do all manner of things which has grave repercussions on them.

"Nightclubbing is a form of distraction academically. How can we balance academic with social activities? A student coming from a nightclub will not be able to meet up with 7 a.m class and some lecturers make attendance compulsory," she said.

Roland Bayode, a 400-level student from the Department of Mass communication also reacted by saying that nightclubbing is neither a good nor right course in our society today. 

He said, "Nightclubbing should not be a preceptor to measure or judge seriousness and virtues of the students. 

However, he added that nightclubbing now have quite more of a negative influence on students which he mentioned that moral decadence had constituted to this ills.  

People's motives and mentality are different, the majority who go are people with the dirty mindset, they do a lot of crazy things which are beyond what they can proudly do during the day time."

Furthermore, A 200-level student from the Department of Accounting, Adedeji Kayode, said, "Any student going to a nightclub will find it difficult to perform well in the class because he or she will not be able to stay focused on his or her academics. Going to nightclub should not be what we involve in as students."

Another student; Bolawole Oluwole, a 400-level student of Industrial chemistry revealed that nightclubbing is an overstretched element of the social aspect of studentship.

"Social life is not an offense and being in a university, one must be able to socialize and learn from others but overstretching it in the form of nightclubbing is an offense. When used to it, one would become addicted to it and it will affect a lot of academic works. Nighttime is one of the most productive times for everyone, a time when you can sit down to think and assimilate but when one uses that period for clubbing and outing, which are not intellectually productive to oneself, it is an offense not to the society but the individual," he said.

Nevertheless, to reduce the rate at which students are involved in nightclubbing, school authorities consciously need to educate students on the effect of clubbing and caution them by putting out rules against students involving nightclubbing. 

Also, parents should endeavor to monitor their offspring and have a closer relationship with them because when students are ashamed of what wrong they have done, they might not be able to discuss or face their parents and it could further lead to another problem. 

Additionally, Parents in their capacity should ensure to provide the needs of their children and students should as well say no to peer pressure and bad association that can lure them into nightclubbing