The brouhaha that accompanied the recent BBC 'Sex For Grade' reportage was unprecedented. As if the crime was new to the constitution, it aroused from near and wide, hot degrees of outrage. These, coming from Parents/Wards, Students and various other stakeholders who all united against the disgusting act of 'sex for grade' so much that certain affected schools were forced to dismiss their bad eggs.
It was really laudable, wasn't it?
But as the events were unfolding, I was very busy in the city of Asaba, Delta state, where I attended the elaborate 64th conference of the Historical Society of Nigeria(HSN). Meanwhile, for every night I spent at the hotel, I was receiving updates on the 'Sex For Grade' documentary. It was top trending on all social media platforms, that I decided to surf 'YouTube' for the clip. And I could recall, I watched it with my colleagues in the room, thereafter we all had our different opinions about it. Everyone had one or two to add because it appeared that some of these perpetrators are unmasked. So we did had a great deal of wishes. Although, no one was willing to point fingers. Because in this part of the world, you do that at your own risk.
But I did drop my unpopular coins of perception on Twitter for those who cared to consider. However until now that I rescinded, I had resolved that no one will trace an article to my name as regards the subject matter.
Well, here I am! For the sake of a fan who challenged me on a request for arguably the most sensitive trend on Nigerian campuses, sex for grades.
It is very unfortunate that at this time, when other parts of the world are busy charting a new course for sound education, we are still battling the horror of 'Sex For Grade' which is only one among many other vices hindering quality education on African campuses, especially Nigeria. The barbaric act of unscrupulous mutual benefits has wriggle its way through the gates of our institututions of learning, all the way from the streets. Indeed, this development is disheartening as it is responsible for clouting so many potentials while degrees are negotiated, rather than merited.
What an ugly situation!
Ordinarily, the school environment should be a place for serious business, while lecturers and students must maintain a mutual respect. In higher institutions, it is believed that the students are mentally and physically matured, and therefore should have the liberty to move freely and make choices. Any attempt to frustrate that personal freedom is directly an infringement on fundamental human rights. And it is a grave crime.
"Under no circumstance must a lecturer lure a student into making love". As a student, there is an obligation to perform all student duties excluding compromises while the lecturer also has both moral and legal responsibilities of ensuring that his/her student excel without accepting any reward in cash or kind. Any deviation from that simply means giving in to temptation or outrightly luring the other party for pleasure. It is called harassment, intimidation, and it is obviously a crime.
When you are equipped with the tools of favor, you are on the hierarchy of ladders. And one thing is important. The need to realize that a privilege is not the same as a right. You have a right to make love to your own wife but a privilege to do the same to another person who is not yours but under your mercy. Any attempt to introduce your might as a means to an end is no doubt a show of force and an abuse of privilege, such as the case of 'Sex For Grades' or 'Grade For Sex'. Whoever is offering any form of pleasure to derive an undue favor is a coward and a criminal.
You are as good as an armed robber or a blackmailer who negotiates torture.
When 'Sex For Grade' continues to thrive, Nigerian schools will not be better off illegal detention camps where impunity is the order of the day. The phrase of 'Scratch my back, I scratch your back' has exchanged our sanctity for wickedness. If it is not curbed, anomalies will spread like wild fire while the flame of cruelty shall consume our land, leaving no stone of sanity unturned.
And since there is a legislation against this crime already, let it be brought alive so that the shenanigan in our schools could die a natural death. Let it be on record that the citizens united against the evil doers and that we recognized that the end is near for the stubborn ones. Therefore, all the Bonifaces must tread carefully.
#SexForGrades❌
Written by✍🏾 Maiyaki Abubakar Damilare
Maiyaki_official (IG)
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