Sex for grades has been part of the Nigerian university system for decades. News are always shocking and messy. But if you’re familiar with the Nigerian university system, you shouldn’t feel so shocked. Nigeria is a country where justice is hardly given to the vulnerable and poor. The academia, which should be an outstanding institution, is not such a system. Some lecturers are known to be demigods in their departments. They say and do anything they like, and no one dares to question them. The randy ones target vulnerable students who they intimidate into having sex with them in exchange for grades. Woe betide any student who refuses them. It means extra years, which the lecturer usually determines.
Table of Content hide 1What is sex for grades? 2Sex for grades in Nigerian universities 3Causes of sex for grades 3.1Corruption in the university system 3.2Laziness on the part of students 3.3Lack of support for victims 3.4Moral decadence in the society 4How to handle sex for grades pressure 4.1Be firm and direct when you say no 4.2Flee from the scene 4.3Speak up 4.4Get evidence of the incidence and report to concerned authorities 4.5Study hard 5BBC sex for grades documentaryWhat is sex for grades?
Sex for grades can be defined as getting academic grades in exchange for sexual favours. It’s a kind of trade by barter operation in academic institutions. Girls are often the targets as they are vulnerable to lecturers. On the other hand, lecturers are also vulnerable to students who boldly try to seduce them for grades using sex as a bargaining tool.
Sex for grades in Nigerian universities
There have been numerous cases in Nigerian universities of lecturers sexually harassing students, especially girls. The university is not only an institution to learn, but a place to develop mentally and emotionally and socialise with people from different backgrounds. However, sex for grades has somehow erased the purpose for victims as they often have to study near the perpetrators. According to Punch, a study by UNESCO reveal that sexual harassment of female students results in outcomes ranging from shame, loss of self-esteem, unwanted pregnancies, poor academic performance, and in some extreme cases, suicide.
ALSO READ: Workplace violence: Meaning, types and prevention
On the other hand, a research by TheGuardian reveals that students in Nigerian universities hardly study anymore. The days you’ll see students attending lectures and going to the library are gradually phasing out. There are a lot of distractions, especially with access to smartphones and the internet. Of course, a student who does not attend classes regularly is susceptible to failure. To avoid failure, such a student becomes vulnerable to seeking “that type” of help. Some students actually go ahead to shamelessly initiate the sex for grades trade which means lecturers can be victims too.
Causes of sex for grades
Corruption in the university system
Some lecturers act like demigods in their departments. They can get away with anything, including sexually harassing students and punishing those who dare to turn down their requests. When concerned authorities in the universities look the other way instead of confronting and punishing perpetrators, sex for grades will continue.
Laziness on the part of students
Nowadays, students don’t like to study and attend lectures. Instead, they focus on fun activities such as fraternising with groups, clubbing, and pressing their smartphones to chat, text, troll on social media, and catch up on the latest celebrity gossip. Most remember their studies when the exams are fast approaching. By then, it will be too late to catch up on their studies, leading them to take desperate actions to avoid academic failure. Some go right ahead to seduce lecturers into having sex with them in exchange for grades.
ALSO READ: 5 countries where polyandry is practised
Lack of support for victims
Until recently, victims of sex for grades are often forced to be quiet and endure their ordeal because they lack support. The bold ones who can speak up are stigmatized and punished for daring to expose their perpetrators. Hence, most prefer to just quietly endure instead of incurring more problems for themselves by speaking up. This encourages perpetrators to continue their devilish acts with relish.
Moral decadence in the society
Nowadays, sex is no longer an exclusive act for the married. It’s a cheap commodity, especially among the youths. A sexually active student will see no problem succumbing to the demands of a randy lecturer if that would mean graduating in flying colours without having to study.
How to handle sex for grades pressure
Be firm and direct when you say no
The only way to deal with being pressured to have sex is to tell the person to stop clearly and directly. If you’re saying no while your body language is saying yes, you’re only setting yourself up to more sexual pressure. If you’re a student in such a situation with your lecturer, politely but firmly turn them down. Let them know in clear terms that you’re not interested. If you’re a lecturer, it’s up to you to firmly and directly walk the student out of your office.
Flee from the scene
Don’t keep saying no, and remain where you are. If you see the chance to run away, please do. You can also scream if you’re being held down against your will. As a lecturer, you have a better chance of controlling the situation. Walking out the misbehaving student is not a bad idea.
Speak up
It doesn’t hurt to talk to someone about your ordeal, no matter how you have been threatened to keep your mouth shut. Tell your parents, siblings, friends, and anyone you feel will help you out of your situation.
Get evidence of the incidence and report to concerned authorities
The story of Monica Osagie, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, who exposed a lecturer Prof. Akindele is a typical example of exposing a perpetrator with evidence. If you’re in a similar situation, you should report to relevant authorities with some evidence. Tell them what is going on with you and keep some records of your report. They will be handy in the future.
ALSO READ: Types, most common hard drugs in Nigeria
Study hard
One of the most effective ways of not falling victim of sex for grades is being serious with your studies. When you study hard and do well in your tests and exams, your chances of encountering randy lecturers will reduce. But when you’re a constant dumb dumb in your class, you will likely fall into the radar of perpetrators.
BBC sex for grades documentary
In 2019, the BBC released a documentary showing shocking details about the sex for grades phenomenon in West African universities. Led by BBC reporter Kiki Mordi, who was also a victim during her days as a university student, the BBC Africa Eye sent undercover journalists posing as students inside the University of Lagos and the University of Ghana.
Professor Boniface Igbeneghu, a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Arts; a former Sub Dean of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and a pastor at the Foursquare Gospel Church was exposed in the documentary trying to harass a BBC reporter posing as a 17-year-old sexually. The lecturer unwittingly shared stories of how lecturers sexually molest female students in the University Staff Club called the Cold Room.
In another scene, Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor of the College of Education, University of Ghana, was also seen in the footage, asking to be a potential student’s “side boy.”
Both lecturers have since been suspended by their various institutions. UNILAG also ordered a shutdown of the Staff Club’ Cold Room’ mentioned in the documentary for further investigation. Foursquare Gospel Church has also announced that the church has distanced itself from Prof. Igbeneghu.
Since the BBC’ Sex for Grades’ documentary was aired, more victims have come out to talk about their ordeals. #sexforgrades trended on social media for a long time. Popular personalities such as Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and former Senate President Bukola Saraki have strongly condemned the act.
ALSO READ: Top 20 best universities in Nigeria
