By Opeyemi Adelakun
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has unveiled a fresh set of safety guidelines for female students, advising them to exercise greater caution in their daily interactions as part of efforts to reduce incidents of sexual harassment and rape on campus.
The advisory, issued through the university’s Student Affairs Division and displayed on a roll-up banner within the institution, outlines precautionary measures intended to help students avoid situations that could expose them to sexual violence.
Among the recommendations attracting widespread attention is the instruction: “Do not shake hands anyhow with any man.”
The safety campaign also advises female students not to “dress to kill,” avoid mingling carelessly with men, refrain from staying alone with a man in secluded places, and avoid seeking unnecessary favours from men.
Other tips encourage students not to watch pornographic films or pictures, avoid accepting intoxicating substances, remain vigilant whenever drinks are served, resist peer pressure and develop the confidence to say no when faced with uncomfortable situations.
The advisory further states: “Learn to say no. One-time sex can cause you pregnancy; if you don’t want it, don’t try it.”
According to the Student Affairs Division, the guidelines form part of the university’s ongoing counselling and sensitisation programme aimed at promoting personal safety and reducing the risks of sexual harassment and rape among students.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of previous cases of alleged sexual assault within the university community, which have heightened conversations about campus safety and the need for stronger preventive measures.
One of the most prominent ongoing cases involves a lecturer, Dr. Samuel Ojogbo, who is standing trial over allegations of raping a 20-year-old undergraduate.
During proceedings before an Ikeja High Court in April, the student alleged that the incident occurred on August 22, 2025, inside the lecturer’s underground office within the university premises.
Testifying before the court, she said the lecturer approached her after an examination and asked her to visit his office.
“I said yes, I knew a section better. He told me not to worry and to see him after the exam,” she told the court.
The undergraduate further testified that she visited the office twice without meeting the lecturer before returning the following day after another examination, when the alleged incident occurred.
UNILAG has also recorded other high-profile sexual assault cases in recent years. In 2019, the Lagos State Government arraigned five students of the institution over the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old student.
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