‘Others must be named, shamed’ – Toke Makinwa speaks on #SexForGrades documentary

Toke Makinwa, Nigerian on-air-personality and lifestyle entrepreneur, has called for joint effort among Nigerian students to speak against sexual assault by university lecturers and force the ministry of education to act against such scandals.

BBC Africa Eye had on Monday released a 53-minute documentary which exposed how Boniface Igbeneghu, a lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), requested sex from female students in exchange for better grades.

Joining the fray of celebrities who have criticized the accused lecturer, Makinwa took to her Instagram page to bare her mind on the situation and advocate justice for all others who have had to undergo similar situations while going about their studies across Nigerian campuses.

“If it never happened to you, I’m sure you know someone who had to endure pressure, sexual advances, harassment and all sort of despicable utterances from these beasts called lecturers. My heart goes out to all the females out there who have gone into depression because one lecturer refused to let them go until they traded their bodies for grades,” she wrote.

“Some have committed suicide, dropped out. Watching that documentary broke me. Until you’ve had to endure it, you honestly don’t want to imagine how frustrating it can be. Lecturers purposely hold on to results, asking you to show them your breast, touch them and make them feel good or else you won’t pass the course.

“I couldn’t but imagine how many women in his church he must have also used his position of power to intimidate. Like, how can you call the name of God so carelessly? I hear he attempted suicide yesterday. What a coward! You cannot die, uncle. You must face the hand of the law.

“Do you know how many girls have jumped off a building or drank poison all because they did sleep with said lecturers and still didn’t get the grades because they want to keep having their way with them? Did you think of your own wife, kids, family, before you put another human being through hell?

“He must live and answer the law, other lecturers must be named and shamed too. Please let’s all come together to use our voice and force the ministry of education to act now, name and Shane them, jail them, this conversation must continue till they hear us.”

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#Sexforgrades. Even if it has never happened to you I am most certainly sure you know someone who has had to endure unnecessary pressure, sexual advances, harassment and all sort of despicable utterances from these beasts called “lecturers”. What a time to be alive, what a time to join the conversation. My heart deeply goes out to all the females out there who have gone into depression because one lecturer refused to let them go until they traded their bodies for grades, some have committed suicide, some dropped out, until you’ve had to endure it, you honestly do not want to imagine how frustrating it can be. Lecturers purposely holding on to your result, asking you to show them your breast, touch them and make them feel good or else you won’t pass the course. Watching that documentary broke me, I couldn’t but imagine the women in his church he must have also used his position of power to intimidate too. Like how can you call the name of God so carelessly? Now I hear he attempted suicide yesterday, what a coward. You cannot die, uncle, you must face the hand of the law. Do you know how many girls have jumped off a building or drank poison all because they did sleep with said lecturers and still didn’t get the grades cos said lecturer wants to keep having his way with them? Did you think of your own wife? Kids? Family before you put another human being thru hell? He must live and answer the law, other lecturers must be named and shamed too. Pls let’s all come together to use our voice and force the ministry of education to act now, name and Shane them, jail them, this conversation must continue till they hear us.

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A post shared by Toke Makinwa (@tokemakinwa) on Oct 8, 2019 at 7:31am PDT

Other celebrities who have spoken up on the development are Seun Kuti, Nigerian Afrobeats singer who prodded the minister of education, and Timi Dakolo, a gospel singer who taunted the accused pastor for throwing Christianity feats while committing sexual atrocities with his students.

“From BBC #SexForGrade documentary, Oga Pastor Boniface was even praying and calling Jesus. Shouting welcome to the kingdom. Nowadays when someone is saying ‘I give God the Glory’, We need to ask, ‘Which God?'” Dakolo wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday.