A sweeping crackdown across Nigerian public universities and polytechnics has led to the dismissal, suspension, or ongoing disciplinary action against no fewer than 50 lecturers for sexual misconduct between April 2021 and April 2025, according to findings by The PUNCH.
The offences, spanning numerous institutions and involving both junior and senior academic staff, including professors, underscore the pervasive nature of sexual harassment in Nigeria’s higher education system.
A 2018 World Bank Group survey conducted through its Women, Business, and the Law project reported that 70% of Nigerian female graduates experienced sexual harassment during their studies, most often by peers and lecturers.
Although the Nigerian Senate passed a bill in 2021 recommending a 21-year prison sentence for educators found guilty of sexual exploitation, the bill has yet to be enacted into law.
Recent Cases Spotlight Growing Institutional Action
On April 24, 2025, the Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi dismissed Dr. Usman Aliyu following an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed a married postgraduate student, Mrs. Kamila Aliyu. The university’s Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee found Dr. Aliyu guilty after Mrs. Aliyu submitted a formal complaint in 2024, accusing him of coercion and threats to her academic progress.
Just 10 days earlier, Lagos State University of Science and Technology terminated the employment of three lecturers—Mr. Nurudeen Hassan (Mass Communication), Mr. Kareem Arigbabu, and Mr. Olayinka Uthman (Arts & Design)—for sexual harassment, following a review by the institution’s Governing Council under the staff conduct regulations.
In other actions, Federal University Lokoja announced the dismissal of four unnamed lecturers for sexual misconduct in November 2024. The same university suspended another lecturer in May 2024, adding to a list of institutions ramping up disciplinary measures.
That same month, Enugu State Police arrested Mr. Mfonobong Udoudom, a suspended lecturer at the University of Nigeria, after video evidence appeared to show him harassing a female student. His suspension had already been announced by the university earlier.
A Pattern of Dismissals Across Institutions
Since 2021, institutions including Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt, and the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi have each taken action against multiple faculty members. OAU dismissed three lecturers in 2021 and later began investigating another professor in April 2022. Similarly, the University of Abuja confirmed the dismissal of four professors over two years.
In one high-profile case, the University of Calabar suspended its Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, in August 2023 following multiple allegations of harassment.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission also weighed in, arraigning Dr. Balogun Olaniran of Tai Solarin University of Education in 2023 for allegedly demanding sexual favours in exchange for altering academic records.
Kogi State Polytechnic featured prominently in multiple incidents. In March 2023, the school dismissed Computer Science lecturer Abutu Thompson for harassment and victimisation. Separately, Mass Communication lecturer Mr. Onoja Baba has called for institutional reforms.
“The existing mechanisms are often bureaucratic, and students fear repercussions, especially when it involves faculty,” Baba said. “Without trusted and effective channels, victims feel isolated. It’s time to rethink how we address reporting and accountability in our institutions.”
Legislative Gap and Call for Reform
Despite widespread sanctions by institutions, critics say a lack of enforceable federal legislation leaves students vulnerable. Until the 2021 anti-sexual harassment bill is signed into law, disciplinary outcomes largely depend on each institution’s internal processes.
The pattern of abuse and the growing wave of disciplinary actions suggest a turning tide in how Nigerian academic institutions handle sexual misconduct. However, advocates stress that systemic reforms, legal backing, and safe reporting mechanisms remain crucial to address the crisis fully.
