At least 60 lecturers in Nigerian universities and polytechnics have faced suspension, dismissal, termination of appointment or criminal prosecution over allegations of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct in the past five years.
According to The Punch, a review of disciplinary actions publicly announced by tertiary institutions between 2021 and July 2026 indicates that despite repeated declarations of zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, cases involving lecturers accused of demanding sex from students have continued to surface nationwide.
The latest cases emerged on July 27, 2026, when Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, suspended a practical biology technologist in its Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Cornelius Eze, following allegations of serious sexual misconduct. The action followed a complaint submitted to the university on July 14.
Just days earlier, on July 18, Kogi State Polytechnic terminated the appointment of lecturer Mukhtar Muhammed over allegations that he sexually molested a student.
The institution said the dismissal formed part of efforts to enforce discipline and safeguard students against abuse.
The polytechnic had taken similar action before.
In December 2025, it dismissed another lecturer, Abutu Thompson, after he was allegedly found guilty of sexually harassing and victimising a female student in the Department of Computer Science.
Likewise, in May 2024, a lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies at the Federal University, Lokoja, was investigated after he was allegedly caught attempting to sexually harass a female student through repeated inappropriate messages.
The campaign against sexual misconduct intensified between 2024 and 2025.
In April 2024, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, indefinitely suspended lecturer Mfonobong Udoudom after a viral video allegedly captured him sexually harassing a female student.
A year later, in April 2025, the Governing Council of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology dismissed three lecturers over allegations of sexual harassment after disciplinary proceedings.
Within 10 days of that decision, the Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, dismissed senior lecturer Dr Usman Aliyu after finding him guilty of sexually harassing a married postgraduate student who accused him of demanding sexual favours and threatening her academic progress.
In July 2025, Lagos State University also dismissed two lecturers after its Governing Council found them culpable of offences including sexual harassment, inhumane treatment of students and financial misconduct.
These recent sanctions add to a growing list of disciplinary measures imposed by tertiary institutions over the last five years.
In February 2021, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, suspended Dr Chigozie Odum of the Department of Archaeology and Tourism over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Four months later, the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, suspended a lecturer in its Department of Media and Theatre Arts over similar allegations, while the University of Lagos dismissed two lecturers in June 2021 for sexual misconduct.
The University of Port Harcourt also dismissed a lecturer in its Department of Foreign Languages and Literature in August 2021 over sexual misconduct.
That same year, the Vice-Chancellor of Akwa Ibom State University, Prof. Nse Essien, disclosed that the institution had dismissed about 14 lecturers for sexually molesting and abusing female students.
In October 2021, the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, dismissed two lecturers from its Departments of Nutrition/Dietetics and General Studies over sexual misconduct.
Also in 2021, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education dismissed a Sociology lecturer for impregnating a female student, while Kwara State University, Malete, sacked a lecturer in December over the sexual harassment of a student in the Department of Pure and Applied Sciences.
The trend continued in 2022.
In January, Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rivers State dismissed a lecturer accused of sexually harassing a female student.
Three months later, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, commenced an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment involving a professor in its Department of Linguistics and African Studies, making him the second professor at the institution to face such allegations within a few years.
In June 2022, the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Raheed Na’allah, announced the dismissal of two professors over sexual misconduct, saying the decision reflected the institution’s commitment to maintaining ethical standards.
Another wave of disciplinary actions followed in 2023.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission arraigned Tai Solarin University of Education lecturer Dr Balogun Olaniran over allegations that he demanded sexual gratification from a female student in exchange for altering her examination results.
In May of the same year, Ambrose Alli University dismissed a lecturer after its Staff Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of sexual harassment.
According to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Adagbonyin, the lecturer admitted making advances to the student and even visited her church to seek forgiveness.
In July 2023, Na’allah disclosed that the University of Abuja had dismissed two additional lecturers over allegations of sexual harassment.
In August 2023, the University of Calabar suspended its then Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, over allegations of sexual harassment.
The matter later became one of Nigeria’s most prominent campus sexual harassment cases after criminal proceedings were instituted against him.
Barely a month later, the University of Lagos suspended lecturer Kadri Babalola over allegations that he raped a 21-year-old student.
Similarly, the Federal College of Forestry in Plateau State suspended four lecturers in October 2023 over allegations of sexually harassing female students.
The persistent cases have continued to raise concerns about the prevalence of sexual harassment in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions despite repeated disciplinary actions.
A 2018 survey by the World Bank Group revealed that about 70 per cent of female graduates from tertiary institutions in Nigeria experienced one form of sexual harassment during their academic journey.
The report identified lecturers and fellow students as the main perpetrators, while many victims said they chose not to report incidents because of fears of victimisation, intimidation, academic consequences and lack of confidence in available reporting channels.
The issue has again attracted public attention following recent allegations involving lecturers accused of misconduct.
A University of Lagos student recently approached the court after accusing a lecturer of sexual harassment, reigniting debate over access to justice for survivors and the responsibility of institutions to protect complainants from retaliation.
The renewed focus comes as lawmakers push for stronger legal measures against sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
In 2025, members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill proposing stiffer penalties for lecturers found guilty of sexually harassing students.
The bill seeks to strengthen existing legal provisions by prescribing tougher sanctions for offenders while requiring tertiary institutions to establish transparent reporting and investigative mechanisms.
The initiative followed years of advocacy after the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Prohibition Bill failed to receive presidential assent despite securing legislative approval in previous assemblies.
Education rights advocates argue that although universities have increasingly dismissed lecturers found culpable of sexual misconduct, criminal prosecution remains rare, allowing many offenders to escape with only administrative sanctions.
Speaking on the issue, the Director of Programmes at Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, urged President Bola Tinubu to assent to the proposed legislation.
“The President signing the bill will be a game-changer. We need to make schools safe for our students. The most unfortunate part of the issue is that some of these students, even when harassed, are scared to come out in the open for fear of victimisation and other issues,” Oluwatoyin said.
Similarly, the former Programme Manager, Gender Justice at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, Nafisa Atiku-Adejuwon, called on tertiary institutions to establish survivor-centred reporting systems that would encourage victims to report cases without fear.
“The response system has to be survivor-centred and holistic; mental and physical health concerns must be taken seriously. The response system shouldn’t be created to make the university look good; it should be to take care of the survivors,” she said.
She further stressed that universities should build confidence among students by guaranteeing confidentiality, shielding complainants from retaliation and ensuring allegations are investigated promptly and transparently.
