ONDO STATE, Nigeria — The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has accused a departmental head at an unnamed tertiary institution in Ondo State of coercing a female student into a sexual arrangement before she could complete her graduation requirements.
The association said the student was cleared by the institution shortly after its national president intervened, but declined to identify herself publicly because she feared retaliation.
Akinteye Babatunde, the president of NANS, disclosed the allegations in a statement issued on Friday, July 10, 2026, titled, “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice.”
According to Akinteye, the student had returned to the institution to retake the only compulsory course she had yet to pass.
She approached the lecturer responsible for the course, who was also her Head of Department, after being informed that she had failed again.
The student alleged that the lecturer told her she would never pass the course before demanding a sexual favour in return for a passing grade.
“She further alleged that, after several encounters, the lecturer demanded that she perform a sexual act on him in his office in exchange for a passing grade,” the statement said.
Akinteye said the student believed that refusing the demand could prevent her from graduating and alleged that she complied because she felt she had no alternative.
Student Reported Further Contact
The student initially believed the matter had ended, according to the NANS president. About a week later, however, the lecturer allegedly began calling her and asking her to visit his residence.
Akinteye said the student understood the requests to mean that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before receiving final clearance from the institution.
“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” he said.
Akinteye said he initially considered disclosing the matter publicly, but the student pleaded with him not to do so because she feared victimisation.
Her immediate concern, he said, was completing the academic process without facing further harassment.
He subsequently contacted the relevant authorities at the institution and was informed within three hours that the student had been cleared.
“While I am relieved that she was able to complete her academic process, I am deeply saddened that she was too afraid to publicly identify herself or the lecturer involved,” Akinteye said.
“This reflects the fear, intimidation and stigma that many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he added.
NANS Calls for Confidential Reporting
Akinteye said the allegation reflected what he described as a wider problem of sexual exploitation in Nigerian tertiary institutions, where students may remain silent because they fear retaliation, public shame or further victimisation.
“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success,” he said. “Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education.”
The NANS president urged students experiencing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report their cases to the association’s National Director of Gender.
“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve,” he said. “Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse.”
NANS did not disclose the name of the institution, the accused lecturer or the student.
