NANS laments over alleged s3x-for-grades incident in Ondo institution

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised concerns over an alleged case of sexual exploitation involving a female student and a lecturer in a tertiary institution in Ondo State.

In a statement issued on Friday titled “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice,” NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, alleged that the student was coerced into a sexual relationship by her Head of Department in exchange for academic success.

According to the statement, the student had one outstanding compulsory course delaying her graduation and returned to retake the examination. After reportedly failing the course again, she approached the lecturer, who allegedly told her she would not pass unless she complied with his demands.

NANS claimed that the lecturer subsequently requested sexual favours as a condition for awarding her a passing grade. The student, reportedly feeling pressured and with limited options to complete her studies, allegedly complied.

The association further alleged that the lecturer continued to contact the student afterward, suggesting that the relationship would need to continue before she could be fully cleared.

Akinteye said the student later reached out to him for help but pleaded that the matter should not be made public due to fear of victimisation and stigma.

He explained that following intervention with authorities in the institution, the student was reportedly cleared within hours.

While expressing relief at the student’s eventual clearance, the NANS president lamented the climate of fear that discourages victims from speaking out.

“This situation highlights the intimidation and stigma many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he said.

Akinteye described the incident as part of a broader pattern of exploitation in tertiary institutions, noting that many cases go unreported due to fear of retaliation and social consequences.

He urged students experiencing harassment or exploitation to report such incidents to appropriate authorities, assuring them of confidentiality and professional handling.

NANS, however, did not disclose the identity of the institution, the lecturer, or the student involved. Efforts to obtain an official response from the institution were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The allegations have not been independently verified.