No fewer than 50 lecturers in public universities and polytechnics across Nigeria have been implicated in cases of sexual misconduct between April 2021 and April 2025, investigations by The PUNCH have revealed.
These cases, which include both suspensions and dismissals, underscore the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria’s higher education system.
The affected academics range from junior staff to senior lecturers and professors.
A 2018 World Bank survey found that 70 percent of female graduates in Nigeria reported experiencing sexual harassment in school—often from lecturers and peers.
Although the Nigerian Senate passed a bill in 2021 proposing a 21-year jail term for offenders, the law remains unsigned.
The latest case occurred on April 24, 2025, when Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, dismissed Dr. Usman Aliyu for allegedly harassing a married postgraduate student, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu.
The dismissal followed a disciplinary committee’s confirmation of misconduct.
Just 10 days earlier, the Lagos State University of Science and Technology fired three lecturers—Mr. Nurudeen Hassan (Mass Communication), Mr. Kareem Arigbabu, and Mr. Olayinka Uthman (Arts & Design)—following a similar probe and under the university’s staff conduct regulations.
Other notable actions include: Federal University, Lokoja: Dismissed four unnamed lecturers in November 2024 and suspended another in May the same year.
Abia State University: Suspended Dr. Udochukwu Ndukwe for three months in August 2024 over a harassment claim.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka: In April 2024, suspended a lecturer, Mr. Mfonobong Udoudom, following his arrest after a viral video showed him allegedly harassing a female student.
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife: Dismissed three lecturers in 2021 and launched another probe in 2022 involving a professor from the Department of Linguistics.
University of Lagos: Fired two lecturers in June 2021 and suspended another, Kadri Babalola, in September 2023 after he was accused of raping a student.
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, University of Port Harcourt, Kwara State University, Ignatius Ajuru University, and Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi all took disciplinary action against staff between 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Dr. Balogun Olaniran of Tai Solarin University of Education for allegedly demanding sexual favors in exchange for grade changes.
Other recent incidents include: Kogi State Polytechnic: Dismissed two lecturers in 2023, including Mr. Abutu Thompson, for misconduct.
Ambrose Alli University: Fired a lecturer in May 2023 after he was found guilty by a disciplinary panel.
University of Abuja: Dismissed four lecturers between 2022 and 2023.
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University of Calabar: Suspended its Dean of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, in August 2023 over multiple harassment allegations.
In response to the growing scandal, education stakeholders have called for more robust and confidential reporting systems.
Mr. Onoja Baba of Kogi State Polytechnic has proposed a “Digital Anonymous Feedback System” to allow students report abuse safely without fear of retaliation.
“Current systems are often bureaucratic and intimidating,” Baba said. “If we truly want change, institutions must adopt transparent, anonymous, and responsive mechanisms.”
Despite the mounting number of cases and increasing awareness, advocates argue that until strong legal and institutional safeguards are fully implemented, many victims will continue to suffer in silence.
