Lagos State University (LASU) has completed a comprehensive nationwide study on rape, funded by a N34 million grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The research aimed to shed light on the prevalence and nature of rape across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The study, led by LASU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan, gathered data from over 3,000 females across urban and rural areas in 12 states. The findings revealed a higher incidence of rape in rural areas, with family members and neighbors identified as primary perpetrators. The research also highlighted key risk factors, including childhood sexual abuse, broken family backgrounds, and other social determinants.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello hailed the study as an unprecedented, comprehensive, and empirical examination of rape in Nigeria. She emphasized the importance of the findings, urging all stakeholders to take the issue seriously, and noted that rape is a global social and public health problem.
Key takeaways from the study include alarming rates of childhood sexual abuse, with 35% nationally, and significant levels of sexual violence experienced by both married and unmarried women. Prof. Olatunji-Bello called for stronger child protection laws and sustained media campaigns against sexual violence, appealing to government agencies, community leaders, and religious institutions to collaborate in safeguarding vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
Due to financial constraints from rising inflation, the team was limited in its ability to disseminate the findings to a wider audience. However, the project’s coordinator, Prof. Onipede Wusu, expressed satisfaction with the project’s completion, underscoring the importance of integrity and transparency in their process.
