An evaluation of the gender justice project in safeguarding students and young adults in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

Sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) in Nigerian Tertiary Educational Institutions has been a persistent issue, contributing to a rise in gender-based violence and creating an atmosphere of fear among students. The 2019 BBC documentary ‘Sex for Grades: Undercover in West African Universities’ revealed the alarming prevalence of SHA, prompting significant public and legislative attention. In response to renewed public scrutiny following the BBC documentary, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation (SMYF) launched the Gender Justice Project (GJP) to institutionalize safeguarding mechanisms across higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. This study evaluates the development and effectiveness of the GJP’s safeguarding policy at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) and the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) theoretical framework to examine coalition-driven policy change and institutional rule reform. The ACF highlights the role of coalitions of stakeholders with shared beliefs in driving policy change, while the IAD framework focuses on the institutional arrangements and rules that govern decision-making processes. Adopting a mixed-methods case study design, the research integrates survey data (n = 290 pre-project; n = 116 post-project) and in-depth interviews to assess perceptions of SHA prevalence, policy awareness and institutional response. Findings indicate that while the GJP contributed to policy innovation and increased stakeholder engagement, post-project awareness and confidence in safeguarding mechanisms declined, revealing persistent gaps in policy implementation, access and cultural ownership. We argue for the integration of safeguarding into national education frameworks, expanded accountability mechanisms and culturally grounded strategies to ensure long-term protection for students and young adults in HEIs.