Female students of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, on Monday, took to the street to protest against alleged sexual harassment by the Dean, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
In a viral video making rounds on Twitter (now known as X), the students were seen holding placards with various inscriptions, calling out the lecturer for allegedly harassing them.
The protest gained attention on social media platforms, with the hashtag #Unical trending as individuals express their solidarity with the female students and call for justice.
The outcry highlights the broader issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria’s academic institutions and the urgent need for authorities to address such allegations responsibly.
Some of the protesters highlighted the urgent need for the university to prioritize the safety and well-being of its students, particularly females.
The protesters further called for a thorough investigation into the allegations to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all.
One of the placards reads, “We are tired of sucking dicks.”
Another states, “Law students are not Bonanza, Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us. The Faculty of Law is not a brothel.”
Yet another placard reads, “Prof. Ndifon, let the girls with big breasts breathe, don’t suffocate us.”
The allegations have since generated reactions on social media, with many joining the students to lend their voices against the alleged sexual harassment.
Reacting to the development, a Twitter user @UnkleAyo wrote, “It will interest you to know that this same Professor was suspended in 2015 for raping a law student in his office. Why was he reinstated? How did he end up becoming a dean again? The V.C of UNICAL is obviously of questionable character.”
@trinityboi wrote, “Female students of the Unical Faculty of Law are currently protesting against their Dean, Prof. Ndifon Cyril. He is notorious for sexually harassing female students. These students are now being threatened with expulsion. When will these men stop this act? This is one of the longest lingering problems most females face in school. Lend a voice ”
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, while addressing the aggrieved students, said their cries and complaints had been heard and that necessary actions will be taken.
She further commended the students for the way and manner they peacefully conducted the protest in line with the school’s rules and regulations.
An online medium, CrossRiverWatch, quoted Ndifon as denying the allegations, stating that the protest was orchestrated by individuals within the faculty who held a grudge against him.
“For Christ’s sake, I don’t teach Year 2 B or Year One students! So, I don’t know why they have chosen to drag my name in the mud.
“This was why I said earlier that the allegations were lies, cooked from the pit of hell just to destroy a reputation that I had spent decades building,” he was partly quoted as saying.
