The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has alleged that a female student of a tertiary institution in Ondo State was coerced into a “sex-for-grades” ordeal by her Head of Department after repeatedly failing a compulsory course required for her graduation.
In a statement titled “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice,” NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, described the allegation as disturbing and called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the matter.
According to the student body, the victim allegedly faced sustained academic pressure after repeatedly failing the compulsory course, with the Head of Department reportedly exploiting the situation by demanding sexual favours as a condition for facilitating her graduation.
NANS said the allegation represents a gross abuse of authority and a violation of the student’s dignity and fundamental rights.
The association insisted that no student should be compelled to choose between academic success and personal dignity, stressing that tertiary institutions must remain safe environments where merit, not exploitation, determines academic progress.
NANS called on the management of the institution, the Ondo State Government, relevant regulatory agencies and security authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the allegation and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The association also urged the institution to protect the identity and safety of the alleged victim from intimidation or victimisation during the investigation.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting Nigerian students, NANS vowed to monitor the case closely and ensure that justice is served, while urging other victims of sexual harassment in higher institutions to report incidents through appropriate channels without fear of retaliations
