- Stigmatisation and how victims of sexual harassment are often portrayed as liars
By Lillian Okenwa
While many have blamed ladies particularly the academically weak ones for luring university lecturers and turning around to accuse them of sexual harassment, there is no gain saying the fact that it is prevalent in Nigerian universities and that a number of university teachers have refused to stop it.
And as victims in Nigerian universities are being blamed, Premium Times reports that “in Nigeria, sexual harassment is the bane of many students. While it is difficult to put a figure to it, a 2018 World Bank survey said 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions had been sexually harassed in school by their fellow students and lecturers.
“A Nigerian study found that 34.2% of the 160 students surveyed said that sexual violence was the most prevalent form of gender-based violence. There is even a bill which aims to prevent it – the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition Bill – awaiting presidential assent, passed by the National Assembly.”
The article further stated: “I analysed comments uploaded on Nairaland.com, a Nigerian English-language internet forum with over 3 million registered users. These were comments about personal experiences of sexual harassment in Nigerian tertiary education institutions.
“The analysis found that the comments contained stereotypical assumptions and negative attitudes towards victims. Victims of sexual harassment were presented as liars and willing accomplices. The comments suggested that women’s behaviour instigated the harassment and that they were guilty.”
Corroborating this position, Dr. Ngozi Adanma Odocha (BSc, M.Ed, Ph.D) School Proprietor, Wellness Coach and Author, affirms that this sour practice has been there over the years.
“Harassment of girls by lecturers did not start today. Even men who befriend girls wanted by some lectures also suffer. This has been going on in the universities for a long time. Girls have found their voices and social media have been helpful in exposing what has been going on in our universities.
“I was in UNN in 1971. I was a good student, and the lecturers knew. Probably because the girls were few then, every girl had her story. I was so harassed that I dared one of the lecturers that the only thing he could do to me was to give me a C.
“This was because if a lecturer failed you, you could get your script re-marked. After the remarking, the best you could get would would be a C. One particular lecturer gave me a C in all his courses, from my 1st to my final year. I slapped one that touched me inappropriately.
“Yes, girls who were not confident suffered more, as well as those girls who were weak in some courses. It is not true that only unserious girls are harassed. What about fellow students who would waylay girls coming back from the library after night studies?
“They rape those girls, and because of shame, the girls would keep quiet. At UniBen, my friend’s daughter was delayed for 2 years because she wouldn’t open her legs. The parents had to take her abroad as the lecturers wouldn’t bulge.
“This happens in almost all universities in Nigeria. Most girls do not talk because of people would blame them. Girls, please, shame these hopeless lecturers who want to destroy your future! Comfortable C, which became my name, did not stop me from having a doctorate degree! So, fight on!”
A 10 April report by Deborah Tolu-Kolawole published in PUNCH Newspaper details how about 39 lecturers were indicted for sexual harassment in the last five years.
Below is the report.
39 lecturers indicted for sexual harassment in five years
No fewer than 39 lecturers in the nation’s tertiary institutions have been indicted and dismissed over sexual misconduct in the past five years, analysis of media reports by The PUNCH has revealed.
Sexual harassment has been recurring in Nigerian higher educational institutions with a survey conducted in 2018 by the World Bank Group’s Women revealing that 70 per cent of female graduates from tertiary institutions in the country were sexually harassed in school, with the main perpetrators being classmates and lecturers.
Although the Senate had in 2021 passed a bill stipulating 21 years imprisonment for randy lecturers, The PUNCH reports that most of the lecturers indicted and found guilty after the bill was passed were simply sacked.
In April 2018, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, announced the indefinite suspension of a professor of Accounting, Richard Oladele, over sexual harassment.
n 2021, the university also dismissed three lecturers from the Departments of English Language, International Relations and Accounting over sexual harassment.
In February 2020, the institution also announced the suspension of a lecturer at the Centre for Distance Learning, Monday Omo-Etan, for sexually molesting a 19-year-old female student.
In 2019, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, announced the suspension of an associate professor, Monday Igbafen, over allegations bordering on sexual harassment of female students.
Igbafen, who was the chairman of the AAU branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the time, had accused the vice-chancellor of the institution of trying to frame him.
The senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the university, in a letter written to the school by his lawyers, Osahon Irebhude & Co, demanded a written apology from the school.
In September 2020, the management of the Imo State University announced the suspension of two lecturers, who were alleged to have been involved in sexual misconduct with female students.
In February 2021, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced the suspension of a lecturer in the Department of Archaeology and Tourism, Dr Chigozie Odum, over allegations bordering on sexual misconduct.
The Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, similarly suspended a lecturer in the Department of Media and Theatre Arts in June 2021 for sexual misconduct.
In the same month, the management of the University of Lagos announced the dismissal of two lecturers over similar offences.
In August of that year, the University of Port Harcourt announced the dismissal of a lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature for sexual misconduct.
n October 2021, the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, also announced the dismissal of two lecturers from the departments of Nutrition/Dietetics and General Studies over sexual misconduct.
A lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education was dismissed for impregnating a female student.
In December 2021, the Kwara State University, Malete, announced the dismissal of a lecturer for harassing a student in the Department of Pure and Applied Sciences.
n January 2022, the Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rivers State, announced the dismissal of a lecturer for harassing a female student.
In April 2022, OAU again launched a probe into allegations of sexual harassment against a professor in the Department of Linguistics and African Studies. So far, two professors have been affected in the institution.
In June 2022, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Abdul-Raheed Na’allah, announced the dismissal of two lecturers for sexual misconduct. Both of them are professors.
Earlier in 2023, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission arraigned Dr. Balogun Olaniran of the Tai Solarin University of Education, who was said to have allegedly demanded sexual gratification from a female student to alter her results in 2021.
