Gender-Based Violence Claims Seven in Ten Female Students
Tertiary education in Nigeria remains a high-risk environment for women. A new national survey has revealed that 70% of female students and 30% of male students have suffered at least one form of gender-based violence (GBV) on campus. These figures emerged from the National Campus Climate Baseline Survey, conducted across 12 universities spanning all six geopolitical zones. Professor Igot Ofem, Director of the Centre for Response and Prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, presented the findings in Lagos on Thursday. The data suggest that campuses are often predatory environments rather than safe havens for learning.
The violence is not limited to the student body. Staff members are also targets of abuse. According to the report, 63% of female staff and 37% of male staff have experienced GBV within the university system. Sexual misconduct is the most pervasive issue, affecting 42.2% of all respondents. This includes a spectrum of abuse ranging from verbal harassment and stalking to inappropriate touching. These numbers highlight a systemic failure to protect the dignity of those working and studying in higher education.
Academic coercion remains a dark reality of the Nigerian campus experience. The survey found that students are frequently pressured into sexual exchanges for academic favours. Those who resist often face severe consequences, including being forced to transfer between institutions or losing academic privileges. Despite the scale of the problem, many survivors choose silence. A profound lack of trust in institutional reporting systems means most cases never reach the authorities. Survivors fear that speaking out will result in more harm than help.
Justice requires more than just a set of rules. It requires an environment where victims feel safe to report abuse without facing shame or stigma. Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), noted that justice is often delayed, which discourages others from coming forward. She argued that the rights of women and girls are fundamental and non-negotiable. Universities must move beyond policy documents and take intentional actions to change the current narrative of impunity.
Some institutions are beginning to provide a blueprint for reform. LASU has established a dedicated centre to serve as a safe space for GBV survivors. It has also embedded GBV information into its student handbook and introduced a mandatory course on prevention for 200-level students. These steps aim to educate the student population before abuse occurs. However, such initiatives remain the exception rather than the rule across the federation.
The report calls for a national overhaul of campus security and ethics. Every university in Nigeria needs an independent sexual harassment response unit to handle cases outside the traditional hierarchy. Authorities must create confidential reporting channels that protect the identity of the survivor. Without these safeguards, the cycle of abuse will continue to drain the potential of Nigeria’s youth. The survey serves as a grim reminder that for many, a degree comes at a physical and emotional cost.