It’s alarming that much attention has not been given to the issue of lecturers who demand quid pro quo (sex-for-grade).
A former Nigerian student confessed her ordeal as a victim of this menace and also mentioned that many other students came out as well to say that they were also victims of this same Lecturer.
The menace of sex-for-grade (SFG) by some lecturers has been a long-standing issue in our academic institutions, which has caused untold low self-esteem and trauma for many students. It is also a scourge that has left the victims feeling helpless, humiliated, and unsure of how to seek justice.
Sex-for-grade can be referred to as the exploitative practice where lecturers demand sexual favours from students in exchange for good grades, academic favours, or any other forms of academic advancement.
This despicable act is a gross abuse of power, trust, and authority, that should not even be mentioned in our tertiary institutions.
Sex-for-grade has become so rampant, that it is now becoming a normal thing in our Tertiary institutions.
According to a revelation from another student, she claimed that a particular Lecturer walked up to her with another Lecturer, and in his words, “It’s because you’re short, or else I’d have had s*x with you”, and after he said it, the other Lecturer with him started laughing. What does this prove? The other Lecturer did not see anything wrong in what he said but saw it as a normal thing.
The possible effects of SFG are far-reaching and devastating. Victims often suffer from:
Emotional trauma and psychological distress
Trauma is a very serious feeling that happens to anyone who just encountered a painful and near-death experience.
Every victim of this menace tends to experience a thing called post-traumatic stress disorder after the assault, whereby the victim will begin to feel like the situation is happening again, whereas it is imaginary, more like a dream or like a dream.
Whenever they begin to experience it, the feeling of fear will also be included, as their brain is psychologically stressed.
Low self-esteem and loss of confidence
Self-esteem can be seen as that feeling present in every human and it helps us to stand high in the midst of people.
Most times when the brain has gone through an unexpectedly disgraceful activity, one’s self-esteem and confidence tend to reduce from high to low and then the person begins to act less of him/ herself.
Aside from the emotional effects that are experienced, the person may also lose his or her self-esteem and confidence. Although, not every victim of rape loses their self-esteem afterwards, eight out of ten victims, tend to lose it immediately.
By then, they begin to see themselves as being worthless and used, most especially first-timers.
Poor academic performance and decreased productivity
Being that it happens in a school environment and a place of learning, what then is expected? The victim-student mode of assimilation and the school spirit will drop, coupled with low self-esteem, and his or her academic performance will surely be affected.
Increased risk of sexual harassment and assault
There is a term called ‘rippled effect’, which means, the continuous consequence of something done. This act of wickedness alone can lead to a generation of more perpetrators if it is not curbed on time. Many more Lecturers may be influenced to join the bandwagon of sexual assaulters, this therefore means that students would no longer be safe.
Sex-for-grade alone has made many students regret ever going into higher institutions and with the look of things, there is a dent in the reputation of Nigerian Tertiary institutions, as her integrity and excellence have also been undermined. Parents’ minds are no longer at rest because their innocent children enter school chaste and come out messed up, after so many abortions and pollution.
The Way Forward (Solutions)
For this menace called Sex-for-grade to be curbed, multi-faceted approaches must be employed and these include:
- Strengthening institutional policies and regulations to create a sense of discipline and sanity in our Educational institutions.
- Providing support services and counselling for victims.
- Encouraging students to speak out and report cases with evidence.
- Holding perpetrators accountable through disciplinary actions or outright dismissal when caught red-handed.
- Promoting a culture of respect, inclusivity and consent.
- Educating students and lecturers on healthy boundaries and relationships.
- Modesty on the part of students should be emphasized in schools.
- Certified/ Proven non-governmental organizations should hold campaigns frequently to educate students and intervene when necessary.
The earlier the issue of sex for grade is looked into by the government, the better for Nigerian students. To the various students who have been assaulted or are about to be, you should reach out to people who would take it up on time.
God bless Nigeria! God bless the Nigerian Educational system!
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