Gender Based Violence, A Glaring Pandemic in Nigerian Universities

The study investigated gender based violence among students in Nigerian universities, particularly females. The study also examined the meaning of university, sexuality, sexual behavior, the concept of violence and gender based violence. The study revealed that sexual violence, physical violence, sexual harassment, emotional/ psychological violence and intimate partner’s violence are the forms of gender based violence experienced by students in Nigerian universities. It was also found that age of students, university social environment, problem of accommodation, university culture, parents’ financial strength, lack of contemptment on the part of the student, student Sexual behavior and their mode of dressing, cultist activities, under reported cases of GBV, lack of adequate security and provision of essential amenities in the universities are the factors that influenced the gender –based violence experienced. Based on the findings it was recommended that the university authorities need to strengthen the university counselling center and others that are concerned to always organize proper orientation for students regularly especially the new students and furnish them with information about the university structure and the culture of the university in order not to fall prey. Government and university authorities need to resolve and find lasting solution to the problem of accommodation faced by the students and that accommodation should be made available for the newly admitted students that seems to be target of the perpetrators and so on.

Keywords: Gender, Violence, University, Females, Nigeria, Harassment, Forms,