Do Not Shake Hands With Any Man, UNILAG Warns Female Students In Sexual Assault Advisories

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has sparked widespread conversation following the release of a controversial set of safety advisories targeted at female students to prevent sexual harassment and rape on campus.

The guidelines, issued through the university’s Student Affairs Division and displayed on roll-up banners across campus premises, outline several precautionary measures female undergraduates are advised to adopt.

Among the most prominent directives featured on the advisory is an admonition against casual physical contact:

“Do not shake hands anyhow with any man.”

The banner further outlines additional behavioral tips for female students reading,“Do not dress to kill. Do not shake hands anyhow with any man. Do not mingle carelessly with men. Do not stay alone with a man in a hidden place. Do not seek unnecessary favour from men. Do not join to watch pornographic film/pictures. Do not accept intoxicants and be vigilant when you are served with drinks. Do not give in to pressure – be assertive.
Learn to say no. One-time sex can cause you pregnancy; if you don’t want it, don’t try it,” the banner adds.

According to the Student Affairs Division, the initiative forms part of its ongoing institutional counselling drive to educate female students on personal safety measures and reduce potential risks of sexual violence within the university community.

The release of the advisory comes in the wake of recurring allegations of sexual assault and misconduct within the institution.

Earlier in April, a 20-year-old undergraduate testified before an Ikeja High Court, accusing a university lecturer, Dr. Samuel Ojogbo, of raping her in his underground office on August 22, 2025.

During proceedings led by State Counsel Owolabi Azeez, the student testified that the alleged assault occurred after the lecturer requested to see her following an academic examination.

The university has previously faced public scrutiny over similar issues. In 2019, the Lagos State Government prosecuted five UNILAG undergraduates over the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old female student.

While the university maintains that the advisory is intended to foster personal vigilance, critics argue that placing the onus of prevention on female students risks deflecting accountability from perpetrators of sexual violence on campus.