The Federal Government has directed all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) as part of efforts to address sex-for-grades, harassment, and gender-based violence on campuses.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, made this announcement during the national summit in Abuja, organized by Alliances for Africa in collaboration with the Committee on Gender Directors in Nigeria, marking the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence. The directive is aimed at providing timely intervention and survivor support for students who experience sexual violence or exploitation at universities.
Suleiman-Ibrahim emphasized that the establishment of SARCs is crucial to combating the troubling trend of sexual exploitation on university campuses, citing the recent case of a female student, Ramota Olahanloye, from the Federal University in Oye Ekiti, who was cleared to graduate after her final-year examination scripts were re-marked. Olahanloye had alleged that a lecturer, Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia, demanded sexual favours from her in exchange for good grades, and when she refused, she was deliberately failed in two courses.
The Minister revealed that while there are currently only 47 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory, more are needed to effectively address the scale of the problem. She urged university leadership to prioritize the establishment of these centres to offer support to survivors and ensure that timely interventions are available.
Suleiman-Ibrahim also stressed the government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to eliminate gender-based violence, promote gender equality, and create safe academic environments. She noted that President Tinubu has a zero-tolerance policy toward gender-based violence.
To further combat the issue, the Minister announced plans to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education, universities, and other stakeholders to launch nationwide campaigns against sexual harassment. She pointed to the 2019 BBC Africa Eye documentary *Sex for Grades*, which exposed lecturers demanding sexual favours in exchange for academic rewards, highlighting the urgent need for stronger reporting systems, survivor-focused support mechanisms, and swift disciplinary actions against perpetrators.
“The time to act is now,” Suleiman-Ibrahim concluded, urging all universities to take immediate steps in creating safe spaces for students and eradicating sexual harassment from the educational system.
