Students of the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos have taken to Twitter to expose the alarming frequency of sexual assault incidents within their institution, using the hashtag #EndSACultureInCMUL. This online campaign has shed light on the pervasive nature of these assaults, prompting urgent calls for reform of the university’s sexual assault policies.
What Happened?
One victim reported an assault to the Dean of Student Affairs, who failed to take adequate action. The student body imposed only a minimal fine and demanded an apology letter. The alleged serial offender, accused of assaulting multiple students, was required to pay a mere 5,000 naira (approximately $3 USD).
Shockingly, university policy allows first-time offenders to pay just 2,500 naira for sexual assault against peers. The doubled fine reflected the perpetrator’s repeated offenses. In another case, when an assault on a pharmacy student was reported to the sub-dean of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, the response was limited to a vague group chat message advising male students to “mind your conduct with the opposite sex.”
Despite these serious allegations, the accused perpetrators continue to participate freely in school activities, including sports and social events, and remain housed in mixed-gender dormitories, potentially putting more female students at risk.
Following the initial tweet, several victims have come forward with compelling evidence, not only incriminating the alleged perpetrators but also implicating the University of Lagos management in a systematic cover-up, including some lecturers. The administration requires every undergraduate to sign an indemnity form, effectively gagging them from protesting under threat of expulsion.
Silenced and fearful, students resort to social media, hiding behind anonymous profiles to voice their concerns, living in perpetual fear not just of sexual assault but of an education system that seems to prioritize its reputation over student safety. Victims are left with no recourse but to suffer in silence, knowing that their traumatic experiences will likely result in nothing more than a token fine.
What Is Being Done About It?
The movement is gaining momentum on social media, with a petition that aims to fundamentally reshape the consequences for sexual assault perpetrators within the university. The petition calls for withholding professional licenses from students found guilty of sexual assault, compelling the institution to implement effective punishments and prevent these individuals from entering the healthcare profession. This measure is inspired by an existing policy in the Faculty of Law, where students facing disciplinary panels for malpractice risk losing their eligibility for legal licensing.
Established anti-violence organizations such as Lagos Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LagosDSVA) and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) have thrown their support behind this initiative, lending credibility and resources to the cause. Their involvement signals a broader recognition of the urgent need to address campus sexual assault and hold perpetrators accountable.
