In what can only be described as a horrifying abuse of power, a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), Engineer Yussouff Abiodun Abideen, has been accused of harassing and intimidating a female student after she bravely rejected his relentless sexual advances.
This is not just a case of one randy academic gone rogue—it is a frightening reflection of the rot that has festered for far too long in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Every day, across campuses nationwide, female students are subjected to emotional torment and academic blackmail by lecturers who wield their authority like a loaded weapon. These young women—many from humble backgrounds—often face a dreadful choice: give in, or watch their dreams of education and success crumble.
According to disturbing reports, Engr. Abideen, of the Civil Engineering Department at LASU's Epe satellite campus, allegedly cornered a female student during a lecture, demanded her contact information on the spot, and wasted no time bombarding her WhatsApp with vulgar and coercive messages. One message chillingly read, "I'm the one sending you messages that you're ignoring now, but very soon, you’ll be the one looking for me."
And then came the hammer: her academic results were mysteriously withheld—just as he had threatened.
An independent investigation by The Street Journal confirms that this student, Miss Segilola Oreoluwa, now lives in constant fear. She reportedly receives daily phone calls from Engr. Abideen, pressuring her to surrender or face expulsion. This is not education—this is extortion disguised in academic robes.
Sadly, LASU is not alone.
At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Professor Richard Akindele was caught in a similar scandal that shocked the nation. He demanded sex from a student five times in exchange for passing grades. His eventual dismissal and imprisonment sent a temporary chill through the academic space, but it didn’t last long.
At Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, a female student made headlines after she attempted suicide when her lecturer reportedly failed her repeatedly for turning down his sexual advances. The university senate eventually launched an investigation, but justice remains elusive.
And then there’s University of Lagos (UNILAG), where the BBC’s groundbreaking “Sex for Grades” documentary exposed a harrowing web of sexual exploitation involving lecturers like Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu, a senior figure who also doubled as a pastor. His disturbing catchphrase, “Welcome to the cold room,” has become a metaphor for the dark corridors of exploitation in Nigeria’s ivory towers.
In these universities—and many more like them—female students have become prey. Our public institutions have turned into sanctuaries for predatory lecturers who should be cooling their heels in prison, not lecturing young girls.
As a father of four daughters, I feel profound sorrow and helpless rage. These girls come into higher institutions with bright dreams and leave—if they survive—with scars, trauma, and sometimes shattered futures. The university, a place meant for intellectual grooming, has become a hunting ground where predators roam freely, unchecked and unashamed.
Miss Ireoluwa's experience is just one of countless untold stories across Nigeria. Many victims suffer in silence. Some become depressed. Others contemplate suicide. Their only crime? Saying no.
Now is the time for action.
We at The Street Journal are calling on mothers and wives of political leaders, women’s rights groups, international human rights bodies, and foreign embassies to intervene. Let us not wait until another promising life is lost to shame, depression, or suicide.
Let Engr. Yussouff Abiodun Abideen and others like him be a reminder that the days of terror in Nigerian classrooms must come to an end. These young women are not toys. They are our daughters, our sisters, and the future of our nation.
Enough is enough.
A stitch in time saves nine. Let’s stitch this wound before the entire system bleeds out.
-The Street Journal
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