The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, has alleged that a Head of Department(HOD) of a university in Ondo State coerced a female student into sex-for-grades after repeatedly failing a compulsory course.
Akinteye, who made the allegation in a statement on Friday, however, did not disclose the name of the institution, the lecturer and the student involved.
He claimed the lecturer coerced the female student into the repeated sexual ordeal after she failed a compulsory course needed for graduation.
The NANS president said the student who had one outstanding course preventing her from graduating, returned to the institution to retake the examination.
Akinteye said the student was informed that she had failed the course again, and subsequently approached the lecturer, who also served as the Head of Department, to seek clarification on why she was unable to pass.
According to,him, the student alleged that the lecturer told her she could never pass the course and, after several encounters, demanded a sexual favour in exchange for awarding her a passing grade.
“She further alleged that, after several encounters, the lecturer demanded that she perform a sexual act on him in his office in exchange for a passing grade,” he stated.
Akinteye said the student claimed she felt trapped and believed she had no option if she wanted to graduate.
“Feeling trapped and believing she had no other option if she wanted to graduate, she said she complied and she gave the him BLOW JOB as demanded by him,” he stated.
According to the NANS president, the student believed the incident will end there, but the lecturer allegedly continued contacting her about a week later.
He alleged that the lecturer repeatedly called the student and invited her to his residence, implying that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before she could finally be cleared.
“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” he said.
Akinteye explained that although he initially intended to escalate the matter publicly, the student pleaded with him not to do so because she feared further victimisation and only wanted to graduate without additional harassment.
The NANS president said he subsequently contacted relevant authorities in the institution and was informed within three hours that the student had been cleared.
“While I am relieved that she was able to complete her academic process, I am deeply saddened that she was too afraid to publicly identify herself or the lecturer involved.
“This reflects the fear, intimidation and stigma that many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he said.
Akinteye described the incident as part of a wider problem of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions.
He noted that many similar cases remain unreported because victims fear embarrassment and victimisation.
“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success.
“Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education,” he added.
He urged female students experiencing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report such incidents to the National Director of Gender of NANS, assuring them that complaints would be handled professionally, confidentially and with the seriousness they deserve.
“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve.
“Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse,” he said.
