GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: IMPACT ON STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical global human rights issue, particularly prevalent in Africa and escalating in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria against female students, faculty, and staff. This disturbing problem demands immediate attention. Objective: To examine the prevalence and perpetrators of GBV against female students, faculty, and staff in Nigerian HEIs. Methods: The study employed a cross-cultural descriptive survey research design, targeting female students, faculty, and staff in HEIs across Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 960 participants from HEIs across the six geopolitical zones. Data were analyzed using pie charts, frequencies, and percentages. Results: Findings indicate a high prevalence of psychological/emotional violence (students: 62.1%, faculty: 57.0%, staff: 58.2%), sexual violence (students: 60.0%, faculty: 25.0%, staff: 28.2%), economic violence (students: 51.2%, faculty: 37.0%, staff: 39.0%), and physical violence (students: 41.2%, faculty: 24.0%, staff: 28.0%). Students identified lecturers as the primary perpetrators of sexual (22%), psychological (17%), and economic/financial violence (20%), while non-relatives were the main perpetrators of physical violence (16%). Faculty and staff reported male colleagues as the primary perpetrators of sexual violence (34%), while husbands were the leading perpetrators of physical (25%), psychological (26%), and economic/financial violence (30%). Surprisingly, majority of perpetrators faced no real consequences, with 52.3% of students, 55.8% of faculty, and 52.1% of staff reporting that offenders were merely warned without punishment. Conclusion: The study indicates a significant prevalence of GBV in Nigerian HEIs, with psychological/emotional violence being the most common. The lack of accountability for offenders suggests the urgent need for stricter enforcement of policies and institutional reforms.