YOUTHFUL EXUBERANT AND CRIMINAL ACT AMONG AAUA STUDENTS IN AKUNGBA AKOKO ONDO STATE

ABSTRACT The study was designed to investigate Youthful Exuberant And Criminal Act Among AAUA Students In Akungba Akoko Ondo State. The population of the study consisted of students in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State. The sample of the study consisted of One hundred and fifty (200) undergraduate students randomly selected faculties in Adekunle Ajasin University. All the eight faculties in the institution were selected from which (8) eight departments where randomly picked from each faculty and 25 students were selected from each department using simple random technique to participate in the research. Given a total of 200 of the majority respondents. While five research questions were raised and answered. The findings from the study indicate that various forms of criminal behavior cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, theft, and disruptive partying are strongly associated with youthful exuberance among AAUA students. It was also revealed that financial hardship, peer pressure, parental neglect, desire for a lavish lifestyle, and inadequate campus security are the most prominent factors driving students into criminal activities at AAUA. The findings demonstrate that youthful exuberance strongly influences students’ involvement in criminal activities on campus, issues such as risky behaviours and cultism shows that the adventurous nature of young people often makes them vulnerable to deviant acts. It was also shown that criminal activities significantly undermine students’ academic focus, safety, and motivation at AAUA. Lastly students strongly support a combination of educational, recreational, security, counseling, and disciplinary measures as effective strategies to curb criminal activities at AAUA. The study concluded that students perceive youthful exuberance as a major factor influencing involvement in criminal acts such as cultism, internet fraud, and drug abuse on campus, often fueled by peer influence and lack of proper guidance. While some see it as a way to gain quick recognition or cope with challenges, many acknowledge that it negatively affects academic performance, student well-being, and the overall image of the university. There the study recommended university should organize regular orientation, workshops, and moral education programs to educate students on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, cybercrime, and other criminal activities that are common among youths. Keywords: Exuberant, Criminal Act, Students, Youth