39 Lecturers Indicted for Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Over Five Years

It has been disclosed that no less than 39 lecturers across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions have faced indictment and subsequent dismissal due to sexual misconduct over the past five years. This revelation stems from an analysis of media reports conducted by The Punch.

Sexual harassment within Nigerian higher education has persisted as a significant issue, with a 2018 survey conducted by the World Bank Group’s Women indicating that a staggering 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions reported experiencing sexual harassment, with both classmates and lecturers identified as primary perpetrators.

Despite efforts to address the issue, including the passage of a bill by the Senate in 2021 prescribing a 21-year prison sentence for culpable lecturers, many of those found guilty post-legislation have faced dismissal rather than legal consequences.

Several incidents highlight the pervasive nature of this problem. In 2018, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, indefinitely suspended a professor over sexual harassment allegations. Similarly, in 2021, three lecturers from various departments were dismissed from the same institution for similar offenses.

Instances of suspension and dismissal due to sexual misconduct extend beyond Obafemi Awolowo University. Other institutions, such as Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Imo State University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, have all taken disciplinary actions against lecturers implicated in sexual harassment cases.

Moreover, the dismissal of two professors at the University of Abuja in June 2022 and the arraignment of a lecturer from Tai Solarin University of Education by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission underscore the severity and breadth of the issue.

Recent incidents in 2023 include the suspension of a lecturer at the University of Lagos for alleged rape and the suspension of four lecturers at the Federal College of Forestry, Plateau state, over sexual harassment allegations.

In light of these developments, stakeholders emphasize the urgency of addressing the issue comprehensively. Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, Director of Programmes at Reform Education Nigeria, urges President Bola Tinubu to sign the sexual harassment bill into law, emphasizing the importance of creating safe environments for students.

Former Programme Manager, Gender Justice at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, Nafisa Atiku-Adejuwon, underscores the need for survivor-centric response systems within institutions, emphasizing the importance of trust-building between university management and students to effectively combat sexual harassment.