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Sex-for-Grades Scandal: Over 50 Nigerian Lecturers Indicted in Four-Year Wave of Sexual Misconduct

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Sex-for-Grades Scandal: Over 50 Nigerian Lecturers Indicted in Four-Year Wave of Sexual Misconduct

Sex-for-Grades Scandal: Over 50 Nigerian Lecturers Indicted in Four-Year Wave of Sexual Misconduct

“The existing mechanisms are often bureaucratic, and students fear repercussions. Without trusted and effective channels, victims feel isolated.”
— Mr. Onoja Baba, Kogi State Polytechnic

ABUJA — Over 50 lecturers across Nigerian public tertiary institutions have been indicted for sexual misconduct between April 2021 and April 2025, in what experts are calling an alarming, systemic crisis of exploitation within the country’s academic institutions.

The wave of cases—many involving coercion, harassment, and abuse of academic power—has resulted in dismissals, suspensions, and ongoing disciplinary proceedings across federal and state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

A Nationwide Pattern of Abuse

The most recent case occurred on April 24, 2025, when the Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, dismissed Dr. Usman Aliyu after an internal disciplinary panel found him guilty of sexually harassing a married postgraduate student, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu.

Mrs. Aliyu had filed a petition in 2024 alleging academic coercion and threats. The institution acted following recommendations from its Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee.

Ten days earlier, on April 14, the Lagos State University of Science and Technology dismissed three lecturers—Nurudeen Hassan, Kareem Arigbabu, and Olayinka Uthman—following multiple sexual harassment complaints and deliberations by its Governing Council.

A Crisis Decades in the Making

A 2018 survey by the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law project revealed that 70% of Nigerian female graduates experienced sexual harassment during their studies—primarily from lecturers and classmates.

In 2021, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill imposing up to 21 years imprisonment for educators found guilty of sexual exploitation. However, the bill has yet to be signed into law, limiting the ability of institutions to enforce lasting legal consequences.

Dismissals and Investigations: A Timeline

Sexual misconduct cases reported between 2021 and 2025 span nearly every region of Nigeria:

  • Federal University, Lokoja dismissed four lecturers in November 2024 and suspended another in May 2024.

  • University of Nigeria, Nsukka suspended Mr. Mfonobong Udoudom, later arrested by police after a viral video showed him allegedly harassing a female student.

  • Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife dismissed three lecturers in 2021 and probed a professor in 2022, bringing its tally to four.

  • University of Abuja confirmed the dismissal of four lecturers—two each in 2022 and 2023—for sexual misconduct.

  • In August 2023, the University of Calabar suspended its Dean of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, after multiple harassment allegations.

  • In 2023, the ICPC arraigned Dr. Balogun Olaniran of Tai Solarin University of Education for allegedly demanding sex to alter exam results.

Additional institutions affected include:

  • Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

  • University of Lagos

  • University of Port Harcourt

  • Abia State University

  • Ambrose Alli University

  • Ignatius Ajuru University

  • Kwara State University

  • Rivers State Polytechnic

  • Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi

  • Kogi State Polytechnic

Fear, Silence, and Systemic Barriers

Despite these actions, many cases remain unreported. Victims often fear retaliation, social stigma, or academic sabotage.

“The fear of losing grades, scholarships, or credibility forces students into silence,” said a female undergraduate who requested anonymity.

Mr. Onoja Baba, a lecturer at Kogi State Polytechnic, has proposed a “Digital Anonymous Feedback System” to allow students to report harassment safely and without fear.

“It’s time we rethink our reporting and accountability structures,” Baba said. “Without transparency and trust, institutional change will remain cosmetic.”

What Needs to Change?

Education rights advocates, student groups, and civil society organizations are calling for:

  • Immediate presidential assent to the 2021 sexual harassment bill

  • Establishment of independent sexual misconduct panels in all institutions

  • Digital whistleblowing systems and victim support desks

  • Public naming of convicted offenders to deter future violations

The wave of dismissals may indicate a shift toward accountability, but critics say true justice must go beyond administrative action. As Nigeria grapples with this long-standing crisis, victims and activists continue to demand justice, protection, and reform—not just punishment, but prevention.

Until then, students remain at risk—and the classroom, meant to be a sanctuary of learning, continues to harbor predators.

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NASRE: Building A Safety Net For Nigeria’s Journalists

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NASRE: Building A Safety Net For Nigeria’s Journalists

 

At a time when Nigeria’s media industry is strained by economic uncertainty, job instability, and shrinking newsroom resources, the Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE) is redefining professional solidarity. More than a network of editors, it is emerging as a critical support system for journalists navigating an increasingly precarious landscape.

 

Founded on the principles of welfare, solidarity, and professional growth, NASRE has positioned itself as a responsive and forward-looking body within the media ecosystem. While many professional associations remain focused on advocacy and training, NASRE distinguishes itself by combining these roles with direct and practical support for journalists and their families.

 

At the core of its mission is a clear proposition that no journalist should be abandoned in times of need. Through financial assistance, targeted outreach, and sustained engagement, the association has supported members facing hardship, as well as widows and families of deceased practitioners. These largely understated interventions have steadily earned NASRE credibility and respect across the industry.

 

The organisation’s approach reflects a keen awareness of the pressures confronting media professionals, including irregular pay, job insecurity, and limited institutional backing. In such an environment, NASRE’s welfare initiatives are not merely charitable, they are essential.

 

Beyond welfare, the association is investing in professional resilience. Through collaboration, networking, and knowledge-sharing platforms, it is equipping editors and practitioners to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital media space, where adaptability is no longer optional.

 

Headquartered in Lagos, NASRE continues to broaden its reach, attracting a growing membership united by the need for a more responsive and supportive professional community. Its expansion signals a shift in expectations within the industry, away from symbolic affiliations towards institutions that deliver measurable value.

 

For many observers, NASRE represents a necessary evolution, a professional body anchored not just in ideals, but in impact. By combining empathy with structure, it offers a model of what media associations can become in challenging times.

 

As the industry continues to evolve, organisations like NASRE may prove indispensable. In a profession devoted to telling society’s stories, it is ensuring that the storytellers themselves are not left behind.

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Oluremi Tinubu Hosts Wife of New IGP, Talks Welfare, Empowerment for Police Families

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Oluremi Tinubu Hosts Wife of New IGP, Talks Welfare, Empowerment for Police Families

Oluremi Tinubu Hosts Wife of New IGP, Talks Welfare, Empowerment for Police Families

 

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, today welcomed Mrs. Mutiat Disu, wife of the Inspector General of Police, at the State House in Abuja.

Oluremi Tinubu Hosts Wife of New IGP, Talks Welfare, Empowerment for Police Families

During the meeting, the First Lady encouraged Mrs. Disu to continue championing the welfare and wellbeing of police officers’ families, especially through impactful support for their wives.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs. Mutiat Disu shared her excitement about partnering with the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), noting that she is ready to leverage its programs to empower police officers’ wives across the country.

Mrs. Disu, who also serves as the National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), described the meeting as insightful and inspiring. She emphasized her commitment to using RHI platforms to improve healthcare, welfare, and economic empowerment for POWA members nationwide.

“The purpose of this visit is to tap into her wealth of experience and explore how POWA can benefit from her programs,” she said.

She added that her engagement with the First Lady has already provided valuable direction, especially in areas of social intervention and healthcare support for police families.

“I’m ready to work closely with Mama to ensure our women benefit fully, especially since RHI focuses on uplifting women, and POWA is largely made up of women.”

Mrs. Disu assumed leadership of POWA following the appointment of Tunji Disu as Inspector General of Police on February 24, 2026, succeeding Kayode Egbetokun.

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Police Day 2026: IGP Disu Leads Nationwide Walkathon To Strengthen Community Trust

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Police Day 2026: IGP Disu Leads Nationwide Walkathon To Strengthen Community Trust

Police Day 2026: IGP Disu Leads Nationwide Walkathon To Strengthen Community Trust

 

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Tuesday led the management team, alongside officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, in a nationwide walkathon to commemorate the 2026 National Police Day.

The event, held across state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory, formed part of activities marking Day Two of the annual celebration, themed “Community Partnership: Building Trust.”

The symbolic exercise, which drew participation from both police personnel and members of the public, was aimed at showcasing unity, discipline, and a renewed commitment to community policing and public safety.

According to the Force leadership, the walkathon underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s resolve to strengthen public trust, deepen engagement with citizens, and enhance collaboration in tackling security challenges across the country.

Participants described the initiative as a practical step toward bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve, while also promoting physical fitness and mental well-being among officers and civilians alike.

With the theme reflecting a shared responsibility for safety, the Police reiterated that sustainable security can only be achieved through active partnership with the public.

The event concluded with a renewed call for collective action under the banner: “Together We Walk, Together We Secure,” emphasizing unity of purpose in building a safer and more secure society for all Nigerians.

 

Police Day 2026: IGP Disu Leads Nationwide Walkathon To Strengthen Community Trust

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