Survey Reveals 70% of Female Students Face GBV in Nigeria

A survey conducted by Alliance Africa (AFA) in collaboration with the Center for Gender Studies (CGS) at Kaduna State University (KASU) across six Nigerian public universities has revealed alarming statistics regarding gender-based violence (GBV) on campuses. The survey found that 70% of female students and 30% of male students reported experiencing at least one form of GBV.

Additionally, 63% of female staff and 37% of male staff experienced sexual misconduct, including unwanted touching, inappropriate comments, verbal abuse, and stalking. The survey, which involved 42% of respondents, indicates a pervasive crisis of sexual harassment in Nigerian higher education.

Professor Hauwa Evelyn Yusuf emphasized the need for urgent action from university vice-chancellors to establish independent sexual harassment response units and implement robust institutional policies. The AFA has launched a five-year program to address sexual harassment in public tertiary institutions, aiming to gather essential data to inform policy interventions and create safer educational environments.