From Conviction to Prevention: Strengthening Nigeria’s Fight Against Sexual Predators in Educational Institutions After Kolawole Muyiwa’s Sentencing -By Psychologist John Egbeazien Oshodi

The conviction and sentencing of Kolawole Muyiwa, a part-time lecturer at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (now Lagos State University of Education), to life imprisonment for the rape of a student marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against sexual violence. Justice Rahman Oshodi’s ruling, delivered with unwavering commitment to justice, serves as a powerful reminder that perpetrators of sexual crimes must be held accountable, particularly those in positions of authority who exploit their power to harm vulnerable individuals. The Lagos State Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court has once again demonstrated its dedication to upholding the rights of survivors, ensuring that justice prevails and setting a crucial precedent in the fight against sexual violence in educational institutions.

However, while this conviction is a step forward for justice, it must not be treated as an isolated victory. The case serves as a wake-up call for Nigerian institutions to implement systemic reforms that will prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Schools, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers must adopt stronger policies to ensure that criminal background checks, sex offender registries, and survivor-centered reporting mechanisms are in place. Without these measures, Nigeria will continue to be plagued by cases of sexual abuse within its educational institutions and workplaces.

Judicial Commitment to Addressing Sexual Violence

Justice Oshodi’s ruling demonstrates that Nigeria’s judicial system can be effective when cases of sexual violence are properly prosecuted. The fact that the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt highlights the strength of survivor testimonies, medical evidence, and legal advocacy in securing a conviction.

Several critical aspects of this ruling set an important legal precedent in addressing sexual violence. The life imprisonment sentence serves as a deterrent to others who might abuse their authority to commit similar crimes. The requirement for Muyiwa’s name to be added to the Lagos State Sex Offender Register marks an important step toward tracking convicted offenders and preventing them from harming others. The recognition that Muyiwa abused his position of trust within an educational institution highlights the need for stricter employment vetting and the enforcement of professional conduct guidelines in schools.

While this case shows that justice is possible, Nigeria’s response to sexual violence must not be limited to reactive convictions. The country must take proactive steps to create a safer educational environment where students and employees are protected from sexual predators.

The Danger of Power Abuse in Nigerian Schools

This case underscores the vulnerability of students in academic settings, where faculty members and authority figures can manipulate and exploit them. Without proper oversight, background checks, and institutional accountability, sexual predators can easily gain access to schools and universities.

The lack of strong institutional policies creates an environment where sexual abuse is normalized, underreported, or ignored. Victims often face fear of retaliation from the perpetrator or institution, stigma and victim-blaming discouraging them from speaking out, lack of confidential and safe reporting mechanisms, and institutional cover-ups that protect offenders rather than victims.

To combat this, educational institutions must implement policies that prioritize survivor protection, accountability, and prevention mechanisms. Schools must go beyond reactionary measures and establish robust frameworks to prevent sexual exploitation before it happens.

Mandatory Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies and Training for Schools

All secondary and higher education institutions in Nigeria must enforce strict, mandatory policies to prevent sexual harassment, coercion, and abuse.

Every new hire must sign a legally binding anti-sexual harassment policy before assuming any role. The policy must outline clear definitions of sexual misconduct, disciplinary actions, and reporting mechanisms. Employees must be informed that any form of sexual exploitation will result in immediate termination and legal action.

Every faculty member, administrator, and staff member must complete a mandatory training session upon hiring. The training must cover what constitutes sexual harassment and abuse, legal consequences of engaging in sexual misconduct, how to report harassment safely and confidentially, and how institutions must respond to reported cases fairly and promptly.

Schools must integrate sexual harassment awareness programs into their academic calendars. Training must address power dynamics, recognizing coercion, and bystander intervention. Regular refresher courses and workshops must be required for all staff and students.

Schools must provide confidential, anonymous platforms for survivors to report cases without fear of victimization. Institutions must publicize their reporting procedures and ensure cases are investigated transparently.

Any faculty or staff member found guilty of harassment must face immediate termination and prosecution. Schools must maintain a publicly accessible registry of dismissed offenders to prevent them from moving to other institutions.

Nigeria Needs a Fully Functional and Enforceable Sex Offender Registry

While Lagos State has established a Sex Offender Register, it remains ineffective due to weak enforcement. Nigeria must build a robust, nationwide registry that is actively maintained and enforced.

A centralized digital database must be managed by the Ministry of Justice and law enforcement agencies. All sex offenders must be registered immediately after conviction, regardless of social status or connections. Schools, workplaces, and religious institutions must be required by law to screen job applicants against the registry. Convicted offenders must report address changes and employment updates. High-risk offenders must be monitored to prevent reoffending.

Mandatory Psychological Counseling and Monitoring for Convicted Sex Offenders

Convictions alone are not enough—offenders must undergo psychological treatment and monitoring to prevent them from reoffending.

All convicted sex offenders must receive individual and group therapy while serving their sentences. Therapy must focus on impulse control, empathy training, and behavior modification.

Before being released, sex offenders must undergo a full forensic psychological assessment. Those deemed high-risk must remain in rehabilitation programs until deemed safe.

Upon release, offenders must continue therapy under government supervision. Regular psychological evaluations must be conducted to determine ongoing risk.

Convicted offenders must be banned from working in schools, religious institutions, and childcare facilities. Law enforcement must conduct unannounced check-ins and offenders must report to authorities regularly.

Ensuring Justice and Protection for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Victims of sexual violence, like the student in this case, must receive mandatory counseling to aid in their emotional and psychological recovery. Without proper support, survivors often struggle with trauma, anxiety, and fear. Schools and communities must ensure access to trauma-informed mental health professionals who can provide therapy, counseling, and guidance. Alongside psychological support, forensic medical examination is crucial in securing justice. A well-conducted forensic sexual assault kit provides critical evidence for prosecution, yet many victims in Nigeria lack access to trained professionals who can properly handle such cases.

There is an urgent need for trained forensic nurses and doctors to conduct thorough examinations, document injuries, and preserve DNA evidence. Medical professionals must be equipped with the skills to treat survivors with compassion and sensitivity while ensuring that all forensic evidence is admissible in court. Hospitals and clinics, particularly those near schools and universities, must establish dedicated sexual assault response units that operate 24/7 to provide immediate care, STI screenings, and pregnancy prevention. Proper forensic procedures, combined with compassionate counseling services, will not only improve conviction rates but also help survivors heal.

Improving Police Response to Sexual Violence

Law enforcement plays a crucial role in ensuring justice for survivors, but many cases are mishandled due to lack of training. Police officers must be educated on trauma-informed response techniques, forensic evidence collection, and survivor-centered investigations. Officers must avoid victim-blaming attitudes and create a safe environment for survivors to report cases without fear of intimidation. Dedicated sexual violence response units must be established within police departments, staffed by officers trained in forensic investigations, survivor advocacy, and legal procedures.

Proper coordination between police, forensic medical teams, and prosecutors is necessary for building strong cases. Officers must be trained to secure crime scenes, collect witness testimonies, and process evidence correctly. Regular refresher courses and workshops should be mandatory to ensure officers remain updated on best practices in handling sexual violence cases. Transparent oversight mechanisms should be implemented to hold law enforcement accountable and prevent case mishandling.

By investing in police training and legal reforms, Nigeria can significantly improve how sexual violence cases are handled, increase conviction rates, and ensure survivors receive the justice and protection they deserve.

Conclusion: Nigeria Must Act Now

The conviction of Kolawole Muyiwa is an important step in addressing sexual violence, but Nigeria must not stop here. The country must implement mandatory sexual harassment training and policies in all schools, establish a strong, enforceable national sex offender registry, mandate criminal background checks for all school employees, and enforce psychological counseling and long-term monitoring for all convicted sex offenders.

Justice should not be reactive—it must be preventive. Nigeria must act now to ensure that its schools, workplaces, and communities are safe from sexual predators. The time for discussion is over. It is time for action.

Oshodi Open Door, also known as Oshodi Open Door Public Training (OOPDT, pronounced opidt), is a public awareness initiative promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in Africa through educational articles and resources at jos5930458@aol.com, and offers specialized Timely Response Solutions (TRS) training at minimal or no cost.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi is an American psychologist, educator, author specializing in forensic clinical psychology, cross-cultural psychology, police prison science, social justice. Born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, he is the son of a 37-year veteran of the Nigeria Police Force, a background that shaped his commitment to justice, security, psychological research.

A pioneer in forensic psychology, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology to Nigeria in 2011 through the National Universities Commission (NUC) Nasarawa State University, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. His contributions extend beyond academia into psychological health behavioral change initiatives through the Oshodi Foundation the Center for Psychological Forensic Services.

Professor Oshodi has held faculty positions at Florida Memorial University, Florida International University, Broward College, Nova Southeastern University, Lynn University. He is also a contributing faculty member in the doctoral undergraduate psychology programs at Walden University serves as a virtual professor with Weldios University and Iscom University.

Beyond academia, he is a government consultant for forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA previously served as Interim Associate Dean Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida.

He has published extensively on mental health, justice, institutional reform is the founder of the Psychoafricalysis theory, which integrates African sociocultural perspectives into psychology.

Professor Oshodi remains an influential force in advancing psychology institutional reform globally, particularly in Africa.