Within Nigerian institutions, the troubling practice of "sex for grade" has recently become more prevalent, raising serious concerns about its normalization and the effects it has on students. It is important to raise awareness of this issue and consider the urgent need for tougher policies to protect students from these traumatic experiences as reports of such instances become more widespread.

It is a worrying trend that endangers the well-being of students pursuing higher education, as "sex for grade" has become normalized. Nigerian universities, formerly seen as centers of learning and development, are currently battling a toxic culture that preys on students' weaknesses and undermines their dignity. The very places that should foster intellectual curiosity and personal development have turned into breeding grounds for predatory behavior.

Disturbingly,  several reports of students being forced or persuaded into unfavorable circumstances in exchange for academic advantages have appeared. These acts jeopardize the students' physical and mental health in addition to casting doubt on the legitimacy of educational institutions. The mental toll that these encounters exact on their victims is incalculable, thus the question is: how much more can these students take before they break down?

Universities in Nigeria must rise to the challenge of ending "sex for grades" in the face of this heartbreaking issues. A crucial first step is the development and implementation of strong regulations that categorically reject and punish such conduct. These regulations ought to offer students a secure and private setting where they can report occurrences without worrying about punishment. Institutions must also place a strong emphasis on an accountability, transparency, and gender-sensitive culture.

A clear reminder of how urgent it is to address this issue is the current campaign against a person within the University of Calabar's Law Faculty. It is important to understand that the issue goes beyond a few isolated events, even though individual examples may garner attention. For true change to occur, a thorough analysis of the systemic causes and conditions that support and sustain "sex for grades" is required.

As a community, it is our responsibility to prevent exploitation and abuse from interfering with our kids' efforts to further their education. It is time for universities, governing bodies, and other stakeholders to collaborate in order to create a setting where students may learn and flourish without having to worry about sexual harassment or coercion. With that, we can eradicate the evil of "sex for grades" and restore the integrity of education in Nigeria by working together.