With the conviction and subsequent jailing of one Richard Akindele of the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and the COOL-ROOM SEX SCANDAL of the University of Lagos, a lot of attention has been focused on the campuses of the nation’s tertiary educational institutions. Former students have also lent their voices on the phenomenon. One of the earliest was that of Ekiti State First Lady, Madam (Erelu) Bisi Fayemi who noted that the MONSTER has been with us for a very long time. Whether she was a victim or not is besides the point – only that when she was an undergraduate, the phenomenon was as rampant then as it is today! The National Assembly, in order to demonstrate the seriousness of the matter and to be seen as doing something about it, halfheartedly introduced a Bill which was discussed for some days. Whether it has been passed into law is what generally UNKNOWN to the general public. But one wonders whether the conviction of Richard Akindele was not done under an existing law of the land! Furthermore, warnings have also been issued by Governor Dapo Abiodun (of Ogun State) to the effect that any lecturer who is caught SEXUALLY HARASSING the students would be SEVERELY dealt. Probably the latest of such warnings is that of Ibadan Polytechnic authorities during the ongoing convocation ceremonies. Sexual harassment, to be sure, is not only a SIN to humanity but also against God Almighty. It is the EXPLOITATION of the dependent position of the female students by the elderly whose responsibilities, among others, is to mould the character of the younger ones. Having said that, it seems as if the ONLY problem confronting these institutions is only the EXCHANGE OF SEX FOR MARKS if what has been said and done is ANYTHING to go by. I am yet to read about EXCHANGE OF MONEY FOR MARKS, INITIATION INTO CULT GROUPS IN EXCHANGE FOR MARKS apart from issues of PLAGIARISM and related issues. At the level of the general SOCIETY, why all these overemphasis on CERTIFICATES rather than PERFORMANCE? For decades, the Nigerian Employer Consultative Council (NECA) had made it known (for those who cared to listen) that most Nigerian graduates are not EMPLOYABLE. It seems to me that, if we are really serious about the problems confronting our tertiary education, a MULTI-PRONGED war must be waged on the problems confronting these institutions rather than the unnecessary SENSATIONALIZATION of some issues that are clearly prevalent in the society as a whole. In the final analysis, methinks that a society deserves the type of institutions it has.
Wow! What a positive read. I recently published an acdemic paper along with my colleagues on sex for grades in Osun. But reading this postualtes that there is far much more than we are paying attention to as academics. Thank you Sir for this piece.