‘Sex For Grades’ scandal ignites social media uproar

BBC Africa on Sunday, October 6, 2019, released the teaser of an investigative piece targeted at unravelling the disturbing instances where university lecturers demand sex from female students in exchange for good grades.

This has triggered a massive uproar on social media, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, as the documentary focuses on two leading public universities in the two countries, the University of Ghana and the University of Lagos.

The documentary, which set to be premiered at 6pm in Ghana, October 7, 2017, has already exposed two lecturers of the aforementioned universities – Dr Paul Kwame Butakor and Dr Boniface Igbeneghu of Ghana and Nigeria, respectively.

Spearheaded by a victim, the documentary recounts and exposes the various instances where some lecturers made sexual advances towards vulnerable female students

As at 8am on Monday, October 7 2019, #SexForGrades had garnered more than 40,000 tweets and was number one on Ghana trends, with almost every user calling for the heads of lecturers already implicated and those yet to be.

Below are some Facebook posts and tweets:

"Sexual harassment is a naked abuse of power."

BBC Africa Eye's explosive new documentary premieres on Monday 7th October, 6PM GMT.

Make sure you don't miss it by subscribing now ??https://t.co/pTrg3Ml3rk#SexForGrades l #BBCAfricaEye pic.twitter.com/y4gx6z9sRc

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) October 6, 2019

Unbelievable!! So the lecturers will rather cover up this canker and watch their institution go into disrepute like what is about to happen tonight when they could have nipped it in the bud? Those lecturers if found guilty should be jailed for jeopardizing students’ futures . https://t.co/VliCgIzn21

— B.You by Berla Mundi (@berlamundi) October 7, 2019

Waiting impatiently for the lazy and unethical lecturers, who come to class with their notes from 15 years ago meanwhile requesting that the government pay them research allowance, to be exposed. Dirty lecturers... and TAs #sexforgrades #ghana #bbc https://t.co/iHRqFV1WvL

— Myl_da_ afriCan (@Myl_da_afriCan) October 6, 2019

Some of our lecturers were captured on tape sexually harassing students ????

The BBC documentary will be dropping in a few hours ????

— #betRESPONSIBLY (@thenanaaba) October 6, 2019

Let's name and shame those sex-for-marks lecturers exposed by #BBCAfricaEye #SexForGrades trailer.
1. Dr. Boniface Ibeneghu, Unilag
2. Dr. Paul Kwame Butakor, University of Ghana

There will be more names when the full video is out. Let's name and shame, not just watch and talk.

— Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) October 7, 2019

Well now they should be ready to kiss their careers goodbye!!! ???? #sexforgrades #tv3newday https://t.co/3XxQNLlA21

— B.You by Berla Mundi (@berlamundi) October 7, 2019

I remember the lecturer (first degree) who failed me on a course I loved so much I still reference till today. I knew that wasn't my score. My friends knew it too.

When I went to him to dispute the result, he said, "so now I finally have your attention."#SexForGrades

— Chioma Agwuegbo (@ChiomaChuka) October 7, 2019

We have disgusting, irritating people on this planet oh, we're trying to root out those lectures that threaten, sexual assault their student for #SexForGrades, And some are worried about the reputation of Nigeria, ???????pls which reputation do Nigeria even have again? #BBCAfricaEye

— Sira???? ???????? (@bensira_emeka) October 7, 2019

#BBCAfricaEye documentary on #SexForGrades make plenty leturers of Legon hot ???? ????
My question is why have BBC failed to do same for institutions in UK and other European countries. Are they trying to tell us this doesn't happen in the UK?

— ???????? The Sir Roy (@TheSirRoy) October 7, 2019

Mark this tweet ????

This #SexForGrades documentary will affect students ruff,in this country we all know that ds things don't fix the problem but rather worsen the it.
Lecturers will be bitter and fail more students.
Don't be too excited if you're a student.

— Sey ? (@sey_amen) October 7, 2019

The university “distancing” themselves from this has to be the most absurd response ever #sexforgrades

— The Attorney (@TheLilyKing) October 7, 2019

This is one of the many reasons why parents need to be close to their children. Imagine the Animal saying he would report her to her parents. #SexForGrades

— Anjolaoluwa (@Anjiexty) October 7, 2019

You know what's funny? After this 'Sex For Grades' exposé, some unwise "powerful" men will still continue with their awful ways thinking their INVINCIBLE. You'll all be caught p333.#SexForGrades #BBCAfricaEye

— Marie-Franz Fordjoe (@the_mfz) October 7, 2019

Can y’all see the pattern in what Boniface said “If you don’t come, I’ll tell your mum you’re being disobedient” and what Biodun Fatoyinbo said to Busola when he raped her, “do what I tell you to do and you’ll be fine”. Threats, inflicting fear ! #SexForGrades

— ebele. (@ebelee_) October 7, 2019

The people you're reporting to are also in the same whatsapp group with these bastards. The whole thing just get as e be. What everybody can now see is that these women aren't lying and these men are actually pigs. #SexforGrades

— ÀGBÀ! (@Oli_Ekun) October 7, 2019

No matter how the ladies are I still think the lecturers and professors are wrong for harassing them sexually
Chale no nonsense for such acts
They came to study and enjoy university life small
No be #SexForGrades

— Me Ho Twa, Wallabow You????????????? (@1tedbaker) October 7, 2019

please private universities need to be added to the list of schools to be investigated. pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee #SexForGrades

— fu. (@balafaama) October 7, 2019

People are refusing to accept the fact that most ladies who fall victim in this #SexForGrades don't learn hence lecturers take advantage of that to get them into bed. Yes lecturer are not supposed to be doing that but our girls too are sometimes at fault because if you learn

— Nii Amartey (@jjamarboye_GH) October 7, 2019

Herh! Abowa! lecturers dey feel ooo. Ei them get cold room all! ???????????????.

You return from work and refuse to eat your wife's food all in the name of " I'm tired " meanwhile you just went to smooch ladies in the " COLD ROOM "! #SexForGrades????

— ???????? ?. (@Greatman__) October 7, 2019