For years, Nigeria has declared war on the “sex-for-grades” culture. Yet, from one campus to another, fresh allegations continue to expose a crisis that laws, dismissals and public outrage have failed to extinguish.
A fresh allegation of sexual misconduct involving a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has reignited concerns over the persistence of the “sex-for-grades” culture in Nigerian tertiary institutions, prompting the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to demand an immediate, transparent investigation and renewed safeguards for students.
The controversy follows the circulation of videos and reports alleging that a lecturer fled through a laboratory window after students reportedly confronted him over an alleged encounter with a female student inside his office. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the university is yet to publicly conclude any disciplinary process.
In a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, NANS described the allegations, if established, as a grave abuse of professional ethics and a betrayal of the trust reposed in academic staff.
The students’ body said it would not tolerate any form of sexual harassment, abuse of authority or exploitation within Nigeria’s higher institutions, insisting that campuses must remain safe environments for learning rather than places where students fear intimidation or coercion.
“NANS will not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse of power, or sexual misconduct within our institutions. Our campuses must be safe spaces for learning, not hunting grounds for predators,” the association said.
According to NANS, students had petitioned the university’s Vice-Chancellor following the incident. The association pledged support for the female student involved and any other witnesses, while calling for protection against intimidation, victimisation or retaliation during any investigation.
It urged the university management to conduct a transparent inquiry and impose appropriate disciplinary measures should the allegations be substantiated.
The association also called on UNIZIK to strengthen its reporting mechanisms, disciplinary procedures and institutional safeguards to encourage victims to report sexual misconduct without fear.
“We will not be silent while our sisters are violated and our campuses are turned into places of fear. Justice must be served. Silence is complicity,” Akinteye said.
A Persistent National Problem
The latest allegation comes despite years of heightened public attention to sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.
Over the past several years, allegations against lecturers in institutions including the University of Lagos, the University of Calabar, the Federal University Lokoja and other tertiary institutions have resulted in suspensions, dismissals, internal disciplinary proceedings and, in some cases, criminal investigations.
The issue gained national prominence following investigative reports exposing alleged “sex-for-grades” practices in parts of Nigeria’s university system, triggering widespread public outrage and renewed calls for stronger institutional accountability.
In response, many universities have adopted zero-tolerance policies, established confidential reporting channels, strengthened disciplinary procedures and created safeguarding mechanisms designed to protect students who report abuse.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has also investigated and prosecuted a number of cases involving allegations of abuse of office and sexual exploitation within educational institutions, reinforcing the message that lecturers who exploit their positions may face both disciplinary and criminal consequences.
Lawmakers Push Tougher Sanctions
The latest controversy also comes against the backdrop of ongoing legislative efforts to tackle sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions.
The Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention, Prohibition and Redress) Bill, passed by the National Assembly, proposes stiff penalties—including prison terms—for educators found guilty of demanding or obtaining sexual favours from students under their authority. The proposed legislation also seeks to strengthen reporting mechanisms and narrow the scope for claims of consent in lecturer-student relationships where clear power imbalances exist.
Although advocates have welcomed the proposed reforms, many argue that legislation alone cannot eradicate the problem without consistent enforcement, institutional transparency and effective protection for complainants and witnesses.
Beyond One University
For student groups and education advocates, the latest allegation is about more than one lecturer or one institution.
It raises broader questions about whether Nigerian universities have done enough to dismantle cultures of silence, protect vulnerable students and hold perpetrators accountable.
Legal experts have long observed that sexual harassment within universities is not merely a disciplinary issue but may also amount to abuse of authority, workplace misconduct and, depending on the circumstances, criminal conduct under existing Nigerian law.
As investigations continue, attention is likely to focus not only on the outcome of the UNIZIK case but also on whether it prompts stronger institutional reforms capable of restoring confidence that university campuses are places of learning, dignity and safety rather than environments where students feel compelled to endure exploitation in pursuit of their education.
