By Oluwakemi Oladipo

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), has appealed to governments, communities, advocacy groups to  implement policies that will safeguard children and women from rape in both rural and urban communities.

Olatunji-Bello made this assertion at the dissemination seminar on rape research organised by some lecturers of LASU on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the title of the project research was: “Emerging Patterns and Determinants of Rape Comparative Study of Rural-Urban Communities in Nigeria.”

The research grant was funded by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), an organisation established by the Federal Government to disburse, manage, and monitor education tax for Nigeria universities.

She described rape as a global social and public health problem.

“In virtually all cultures, violent sexual engagement and defilement of all categories of females is a disturbing reality.

“The achievement of Rape Research Team aligns with my administration’s commitment to make LASU the best university in the West African sub- region.

“Indeed, the achievement of this team takes us closer to the realisation of the goal of making LASU a research and innovation hub,” Olatunji-Bello said.

She recalled that the TETFund National Research Fund (NRF) Quality Team was in her office a year ago to evaluate the extent of the grant research execution in LASU.

“After their assessment, the team expressed a deep sense of satisfaction with the extent of work done by this research group.

“Today, we are gathered to celebrate the completion of the study and witness the presentation of the key findings to the public.

“This study, to the best of my knowledge, is an unprecedented most comprehensive and most profoundly empirical study on rape in Nigeria.

“Since this study covers all the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, certainly, it has produced pieces of information that can be used to tackle rape in our society,” Olatunji-Bello said.

Prof. Olufunsho Omobitan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), LASU, said  the programme was the first dissemination seminar research in the university.

Omobitan, the principal investigator for the rape research team, said the research took about 23 months, adding that N34 million naira was granted by TETFUND NRT for the work.

“I want to appreciate the management team of LASU, Deans of Social Sciences and Education for their constant support during and after the research,” he said.

Prof. Onipede Wusu, the coordinator of the rape research team, said they used a mixed method approach to generate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data on rape among women in rural-urban communities in 12 states.

Wusu, also a Professor of Sociology, LASU said that their data suggested that rape incidence was generally higher in rural than in urban communities.

“Families members and neighbours are the principal perpetrators.

“The critical risk factors for various forms of rape experience include; childhood sexual abuse experience, ethnicity, family situation and background.

“To constrain the incidence of rape in Nigeria, effective child protection law, sustained campaigns against sexual violence, harmful lifestyles and family sanctity are imperatives,” he said.

NAN reports that the key findings of the research by LASU lecturers were; rape against young females by Dr Olabusoye Olupooye; child sexual abuse by Prof. Onipede Wusu; rape against reproductive aged women by Dr Adijat Olateju.

Others are: non-spousal rape by Dr Ibrahim Ali and rape against older women by Dr Sakiru Raji, among others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma