27th November, 2014
Harrison Iyoha
The growing prostitution in Nigerian tertiary institutions is raising a serious concern among Nigerians.
Campus prostitution is now a common business in Nigerian tertiary institutions; with the culprits not hiding their trade. There is virtually no tertiary institution in Nigeria today that is immune to this sordid trade. Campus prostitution is actually a survival strategy that is a fall-out of the dwindling morals in the society coupled with the harsh economic realities that affected many Nigerian families after the austerity era of the 80s.
P.M.NEWS Campus Square sought the opinions of some students and the first respondent, Akorede said “prostitution in our tertiary institutions is a trade that has grown to the extent that it demands serious attention from the government.
“It is a business which the culprits are sometimes not ashamed of. Prostitution is something that the government should really look into.
“But at the same time I am not surprised by the negligence of the government because when you investigate those patronising these young students, you will find out that they are our so-called senators, and government officials.
“They (government officials) are the ones that throw the parents of these students into abject poverty and at the same time destroy their children.
“Also, parental role should not be pushed aside because good upbringing is also crucial in curbing prostitution. Poor parental care pushes students into prostitution. Because their parents can’t afford financial support, they tend to venture into prostitution to survive.
“The government is not helping at all with the level of unemployment and also high cost of going through our tertiary institution.
“To curb prostitution in our tertiary institutions, there should be law prohibiting prostitution on campuses. Those who indulge in it should be arrested. This will deter those who want to venture into the trade.”
Adediran Bukunmi, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU said: “some OAU girls have PhD in prostitution. Archy, Motion Ground, Ajose, First Bank are some of the ‘mini-hotels’ we have on OAU campus.
“You find condoms, pants and sometimes blood early in the morning if you pass through these areas. You see ‘lovers’ hanging around this love spots at night, many even go further to make love in these places as they are often very few people around at the time.
“Anglomoz is the mother of ‘mini-hotels’ where ‘big boys’ come to pick up the willing ladies. Some have even been recognized by the cars they bring as they do not miss the rendezvous every night.
“Their activities reduce during exam period. Honestly, I am indifferent about it. I really do not care what they do with their lives.”
“The practice of dating older men for money has taken over Nigerian schools by female students who so much desire to live a life beyond what their parents can provide for them,” Jerry Adeyemi said.
”Prostitution on our campuses is no longer news. But it is difficult to pin point who to put the blame on. Is it the campus girls or their patrons?” he queried.
A senior lecturer with one of the universities in Lagos who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the issue at hand is beyond university students as there are many young ladies who engaged in street prostitution parading themselves as students thereby mingling with students.
According to Bashorun Aminat of the University of Lagos, “I don’t think it is seen as prostitution any longer. The issue is that basically, girls here are after the tall, cute guy who can pay their bills and must have a car. That is very important.
“The girls do not hesitate once such a guy approaches them. If he has a car then they are good to go. A case happened last semester when some girls left the hostel in the evening and told their roommates that they wanted to stroll out just within the school premises.
“A report was brought later the next day that the three friends were involved in a serious car accident in which one of them died.
“They come to pick them with cars or they take cab to their destination and when they return the next day, they come back big with a huge intimidating amount of money and they flaunt it for all to see.
“We are in deep trouble in this country if urgent step is not taken to address this crisis. But, the question is; who will provide the platform for such reforms to take place, when it was the same politicians, political office holders, bureaucrats, and some traditional rulers that are the major promoters of such illicit business in the first place.”
Seun, another respondent averred that, “campus prostitution is a general malaise in our institutions today. It is of two sides; lecturers wooing students and students flirting with lecturers for favour.
“Morals are of no use to the lecturers as all they want is a piece of the cake instead of standing as a pillar to uphold morals.”
Education is supposed to be 360 degrees in a student’s life, which should consist of moral teaching, character building and motivational teaching. But the reverse is the case in our dear nation.
Though it is difficult to pin down the exact year campus prostitution started, it has been widely acknowledged that it started in full swing in the 90s.