SEX-FOR-MARKS: Henceforth lecturers found guilty’ll serve stiffest punishment —Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that culprits of sex-for-marks in educational institutions in the country, would henceforth serve the stiffest punishment under the law.

Lecturers in Nigerian universities and other higher institutions have often been accused of asking for sex from their students in exchange for marks.

But Buhari, who spoke on Wednesday, at the 35th convocation of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said his government would not condone any form of indiscipline and misdemeanour.

He added that he had instructed appropriate government agencies to take decisive and firm action against any lecturer or other staff found culpable in any act of sexual harassment in both the nation’s educational and other institutions.

President Buhari, a visitor to the university was represented at the event by a deputy director in the National University Commission (NUC), Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf.

He said, “Definitely, our universities can do without the negative and scandalous attention being paid to them and our dear nation in the wake of trending stories of sex- for- grades and sexual harassment, which has assumed a global dimension.

READ ALSO: Producing pencils when Rwanda makes cars, something’s wrong with Nigeria —Fani-Kayode

“It is most reprehensible that while some of our more illustrious university staff are making concerted efforts to improve the continental and global ranking of Nigeria’s universities and indeed some of our universities are already beginning to make more respectable showing on continental and global league and ranking tables, such efforts are now being overshadowed by the negative reputation of immorality and shame being brought upon our citadels of higher learning by the irresponsibility and indiscipline of a few misguided academics .

“It is most disheartening that people who are expected to train, guide and groom students in loco parentis turned round to breach the trust and confidence reposed in them by exploiting the students entrusted into their care and under their tutelage.

“Henceforth all culprits shall face the full wrath of law as they will be prosecuted and those found guilty will serve the stiffest punishment under the law.

“I urge our university administrators in particular and all categories of staff to spare no efforts in ensuring that our higher institutions live up to the expectations of training and developing graduates who are in truth and indeed, worthy in character and learning.”

Of the 12,009 students who graduated at the ceremony, 130 of them had first-class degrees honours.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now