Sex-for-grades: FG asks varsities to set up help centres

The Federal Government on Monday directed tertiary institutions in the country to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres to address cases of students offering lecturers sex in exchange for good grades, harassment and gender-based violence on campuses.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this at the national summit held in Abuja by Alliances for Africa in collaboration with the Committee on Gender Directors in Nigeria to kick off the 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence.

The directive comes three days after the Federal University in Oye Ekiti cleared a female student, Ramota Olahanloye, to graduate following the re-marking of her final-year examination scripts.

Olahanloye had alleged that a lecturer, Dr Anthony Agbegbedia, demanded sexual favours from her and when she declined, he deliberately failed her in two final-year courses.

However, the minister disclosed that for the trend to be curbed, there is a need to introduce timely intervention and survivor support in the centres being recommended.

She said, “I call on university leadership to prioritise the establishment of SARCs to ensure timely intervention and support for survivors within their communities.

“We currently have only 47 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 22 states and the FCT. This is far from enough,”

The minister highlighted the FG’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to champion gender equality, eradicate GBV and promote safe academic environments.

She also announced plans to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education, universities and other stakeholders to unveil nationwide campaigns against sexual harassment.

“It is very heartwarming to see so many of the Directors of the gender centres from different universities across Nigeria join in this effort. In recent years, several high-profile cases have highlighted the pervasive nature of sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions.

“The BBC Africa Eye documentary titled “Sex for Grades” revealed chilling accounts of lecturers demanding sexual favours from students in exchange for academic rewards. This exposé not only brought global attention to the issue but also spurred nationwide outrage and calls for reform.

“These incidents demonstrated the urgent need for robust reporting systems, survivor-centred support mechanisms and swift disciplinary action against perpetrators,” she explained.