Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has demanded an immediate and transparent investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a female student by a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following reports that the lecturer fled through a window while partially clothed after being caught in a compromising position inside a laboratory. The students' body, in a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, condemned the incident as a serious breach of professional ethics and a betrayal of the trust reposed in academic staff, insisting that Nigerian campuses must not be reduced to hunting grounds for predators.
According to reports, the biology lecturer had allegedly been persistently demanding sexual favours from the female student, promising to award her a passing grade in exchange. Acting on the advice of fellow students, the victim reportedly agreed to meet the lecturer in the laboratory, where she raised an alarm after he removed his clothes. Videos that have since circulated on social media show the lecturer dressed only in his underwear while the laboratory door was locked from the inside as students attempted to gain access. One of the students eventually forced the door open, prompting the lecturer to flee through a window before leaving the scene, according to Milestone News. The lecturer has since been arrested by the police following the allegations.
NANS commended the students who reportedly petitioned the university's Vice-Chancellor over the incident, pledging support for the female student involved and others seeking accountability. "NANS will not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse of power, or sexual misconduct within our institutions. Our campuses must be safe spaces for learning, not hunting grounds for predators," the statement read. The association urged the university management to immediately investigate the incident and ensure the process is conducted transparently, while calling for appropriate disciplinary action against the lecturer if found culpable.
The student body also demanded protection for the female student and other whistleblowers against intimidation, victimisation, or retaliation, stressing the need for a fair process that prioritises the welfare, dignity, and safety of students. NANS further called on UNIZIK to strengthen its disciplinary framework and reporting mechanisms for cases of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct within the institution. "We will not be silent while our sisters are violated and our campuses are turned into places of fear. Justice must be served. Silence is complicity," Akinteye stated.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the identity of the lecturer has not been officially disclosed by the university. However, the incident has reignited concerns over the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse of power in Nigerian tertiary institutions, particularly the troubling trend of "sex-for-grades" where lecturers demand sexual favours from students in exchange for academic progression. The case at UNIZIK is the latest in a series of high-profile sexual misconduct allegations that have rocked Nigerian universities, following the well-documented case of Professor Cyril Ndifon of the University of Calabar, who was dismissed for sexual harassment, and previous incidents at UNIZIK itself where lecturers were demoted over similar allegations.
The association called on the university management to immediately investigate the incident and ensure that the process is conducted transparently and without interference. The association also demanded that the female student involved and other whistleblowers be protected from intimidation, victimisation, or retaliation. "The safety, dignity and welfare of students must remain a priority throughout the investigation," the statement read. NANS further urged UNIZIK to strengthen its policies, reporting channels and disciplinary mechanisms for handling cases of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct.
The case has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups and student activists, who have called on the Federal Government to take decisive action to address the culture of impunity that allows such abuses to persist in Nigerian universities. As the investigation unfolds, the pressure is mounting on the university management to demonstrate its commitment to protecting students and upholding the integrity of the academic environment. The outcome of the case will be closely watched as a test of the institution's willingness to hold its staff accountable and to send a clear message that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated. The arrest of the lecturer by the police marks the beginning of what could be a long legal battle, but for the victim and countless others like her, the fight for justice is far from over.
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