The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has alleged that a female student in a tertiary institution in Ondo State was compelled into a sex-for-grades arrangement by her Head of Department (HOD) after she repeatedly failed a compulsory course required for graduation.

NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, made the allegation in a statement issued on Friday and titled, “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice.”

Akinteye said the student had only one outstanding course left before graduation and returned to the school to retake the examination.

He said after she was told that she had failed the course again, she approached the lecturer in charge of it, who was also the Head of Department, to find out why she could not pass.

According to the NANS president, the student alleged that the lecturer told her she could never pass the course and later demanded sex in exchange 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 partly read

Akinteye said the student claimed she felt cornered and believed she had no other way of graduating.

“Feeling trapped and believing she had no other option if she wanted to graduate, she said she complied and she gave him BLOW JOB as demanded by him,” he stated.

He said the student thought the matter had ended after the incident, but alleged that the lecturer contacted her again about a week later.

Akinteye alleged that the lecturer kept calling the student and asking her to come to his residence, suggesting that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before she could be cleared.

“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” Akinteye said.

The NANS president said he had planned to take the matter public at first, but the student begged him not to because she feared victimisation and only wanted to complete her graduation without further harassment.

He said he then reached out to the appropriate authorities in 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.

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

Akinteye said the incident highlights a broader pattern of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions, stressing that many cases go unreported because victims fear retaliation, shame and victimisation.

“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success. Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education,” he added.

He urged female students facing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report such cases to the National Director of Gender of NANS, assuring them that such complaints would be treated professionally and confidentially.

“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve. Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse,” he said.

Akinteye, however, did not name the institution, the lecturer or the student involved. (Nigerian Tribune)