Opinion: Homosexuality on our campuses and society

There is more openness then, but for many, that does not seem to have alleviated the pain and isolation and self‐hate experienced by many homosexuals in the past.’

They demand their civil rights and official campus recognition. They hold “solidarity days” and dances. On bulletin boards, they openly solicit the companionship of those like‐minded and visible.

All these were demands by the LGBTQ group in Nigeria before former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the same-sex (Prohibition) bills into law on January 7, 2014.

Things are very different for them now. Though their actual number may not have decreased, on some campuses their student organizations are as secret as other prohibited groups in Nigeria. The level of open hostility has been higher by several decibels. Even in the more unthinking, raucous dorms, “queerbaiting” is no small measure. “And if they hate your guts,” said one homosexual student, “they say it to your face and attack you openly.”

The Nigerian parliament on July 9, 2024, called for an investigation of the Samoa Agreement, a pact federal authorities signed with the European Union, after a media report that some of the deal’s clauses could promote same-sex relationships.

Nigerian authorities have denied the claims and promised to act against news organizations reporting them.

Crackdown on homosexuality is still ongoing in Nigeria, and individuals involved will face the wrath of the law; this makes many homosexuals in Nigeria leave to the Western world for safety.

During the cause of our investigation on the crackdown on Homosexuality in Nigeria on our campuses, we were told how many students didn’t resume back to school after they were accused of homosexuality, Yusuf sulaiman, Adekunle Ayeni and Babalola Qazeem Olamilekan, didn’t resume after they were harassed and attacked on campus the investigation is still ongoing.

Homosexuality is not only rampant on the campus but also in our society, cases related to Homosexuality before the Nigeria Police Force are increasing every day in Nigeria.

We also report the cases of Olaosebikan Musefiu, Adegoke Hassan and Linda Ezekiel.