THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (The ICIR) has launched a new initiative aimed at addressing sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, especially among female students.
The project, titled “Empowering Female Students to Challenge Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Universities,” is being implemented as part of the Centre’s ongoing Oga Lecturer Initiative.
Funded by the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) through its NGO Support Initiative (NSI), the project seeks to address a long-standing crisis in Nigeria’s tertiary education system, including the exploitation of female students by academic staff in exchange for grades or academic favours.
This phase of the Oga Lecturer Initiative will focus on two universities in Abuja where it will create safe reporting channels for survivors of sexual harassment while supporting peer-led advocacy on campus. Accordingly, the initiative will also provide training, tools and direct engagement opportunities with university authorities to foster institutional reform.
“Sexual harassment is a global issue, but Nigerian universities have probably not done enough to address it,” the ICIR said in a statement.
“Weak reporting systems and limited accountability have allowed this culture to thrive unchecked,” it added.
According to the ICIR, the project is designed not only to expose harassment but also to equip students with the confidence and knowledge to challenge it.
The ICIR has previously documented dozens of cases of sexual misconduct in higher education through the Oga Lecturer Project and continues to push for transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s university system.
