Campus Sex Files (8): Dear Professor Oluchi, Can the New Law Against Lecturers Having Sex with Female Students Be Enforced?

Posted by admin Campus Sex Files Sunday, July 10th, 2016

Dear Professor Oluchi,

I am have been a victim of sexual harassment many times in the last two years since I started attending my university in Lagos. It is a pervasive problem in Nigerian universities and it is very difficult for a female student who is beautiful to pass through university in Nigeria without having sex with at least two professors for marks. Many of my female friends to avoid being victims, now claim to be lesbians or dress like men, with short haircuts and no make-up to avoid attracting the romantic interest of randy male lecturers. What do you make of the new law passed by the National Assembly to imprison lecturers who have sex with female students? Can it be enforced?

Elisa-Toyin by email

Dear Elisa-Toyin,

Thank you for your email and question, it is a very important one. It is a milestone for the male dominated National Assembly to consider this issue as a pervasive problem (as you stated) and to take legislative measures to address it. This takes significant courage and I commend the members of NASS for this important initiative. While this is a good move, it is meaningless unless it is enforced and violators punished. The process of enforcement largely begins with female students who are harassed by lecturers and pressured to give up their bodies to earn good marks. If these students report such harassment to the university authorities, they are bound to act or risk losing their jobs in addition to facing criminal charges. Female students must know their rights and ensure that they advise any misguided male lecturer that approaches them for sex of such rights. Any violation should be reported to the authorities without delay.

Sincerely,
Professor Oluchiwp_posts