Nigeria’s schools continue to grapple with an entrenched culture of sexual abuse and harassment. Last year, we shed light on the disturbing incidents at the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar.
Now, new reports have emerged from the University of Lagos’ College of Medicine, where students face similar predatory behavior from fellow students.
Trigger Warning: Sexual assault
In the past week, X (Formerly Twitter) user @Theariaspeaks posted a thread highlighting a widespread issue of sexual assault at the University of Lagos (UNILAG). This user shared anonymous accounts from victims and called out the university for its reluctance to hold perpetrators accountable. The thread named individuals who had previously escaped punishment.
This story is still developing but here’s a timeline of the reported incidents:
March 2024 — Oluwagbemileke Otokiti
On June 29, 2024, a 200-level pharmacy student, Oluwagbemileke Otokiti, was accused of sexually assaulting a 200-level female medicine and surgery student. Anonymous messages sent to @Theariaspeaks alleged that Oluwagbemileke was previously involved in another incident in March 2024. The university’s student legislative council, known as the House of Lords, fined him ₦5000, required an apology letter, and requested a guarantor to vouch for his conduct.
The victim reported that Oluwagbemileke assaulted her between 2:55 AM and 3:05 AM on March 10, 2024, while she was studying. He hugged her from behind without consent and persisted with inappropriate comments despite her discomfort.
She reported the incident to the House of Lords, leading to an investigation where Oluwagbemileke confessed and apologized. The victim initially requested a written apology to be shared within the student community while keeping her identity anonymous.
By March 20, Oluwagbemileke had paid the fine but failed to provide a guarantor, escalating the matter to the Dean of Student Affairs. The victim also mentioned a similar incident with Oluwagbemileke in their first year.
On March 22, the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, Unilag Chapter, reported his misconduct to the Dean of the Pharmacy faculty. Despite complaints, he participated in a faculty sports event, making several women uncomfortable.
June 26, 2024 — Samuel Adigwe
On June 28, 2024, Samuel Adigwe, a male pharmacy student, was reported for sexually harassing a female radiography student. Around 1:00 AM on June 26, while the victim was asleep in a study room, Samuel inappropriately touched her. She pushed him away and called a friend, who confronted Samuel, but he dismissed the incident as mutual.
The victim reported the case to the House of Lords, prompting an immediate investigation. Following the report, the Sub-Dean issued a warning to male students in the 400-level pharmacy group chat.
October 2023 — Chibueze Nwammah
A message sent to @TheAriaspeaks accused Chibueze Nwammah, a 600-level medical student, of assaulting over thirty female students. He allegedly used academic checks as a pretext to hug his victims and rub his penis against them. In October 2023, Chibueze was reported for sexually assaulting at least eleven female classmates, with a petition signed by fifty-four people. A panel was formed, but no updates have been provided.
Meanwhile, organizations like the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DVSA) and Stand to End Rape (STER) are involved in the case. A petition demanding accountability for sexual harassment at Unilag’s College of Medicine is trending with the hashtag #EndSACultureInCMUL.
This recurring issue underscores the pervasive nature of sexual misconduct within Nigeria’s educational system, highlighting an urgent need for comprehensive reforms and stricter enforcement of policies to protect students.
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