# Intention for internal whistleblowing to report sexual violence in higher education institutions: a Nigerian national study

## TL;DR

This study explores whether Nigerian higher education staff and students intend to report sexual violence internally and identifies preferred reporting mechanisms.

## Contribution

The study provides novel data on whistleblowing intentions and attitudes toward sexual violence in Nigerian higher education institutions.

## Key findings

- Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from over 25,000 participants across Nigerian higher education institutions.
- The study reveals attitudes, self-efficacy, and subjective norms related to internal whistleblowing of sexual violence.
- It identifies current reporting systems and preferred mechanisms for reporting sexual violence.

## Abstract

Background

Sexual violence is prevalent in higher education institutions in Nigeria and stakeholders have encouraged staff and students to blow the whistle whenever they fall victim to or are aware of any sexual violence case. However, there is lack of data about whether the staff and students of these institutions have the intention to blow the whistle internally (within the institution) or not. There is also a lack of data on the existing reporting mechanisms or preferred whistleblowing mechanisms in these institutions. These have hindered the analysis of stakeholders’ opinions on this topic.

Methods

This data note presents a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data set collected from staff and students of three categories of government owned higher education institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education) in Nigeria. Data collection was between February and December, 2021, during which quantitative data were collected from 21,937 students and 3,108 staff. Qualitatively, 138 students and 111 staff participated in a total of 35 focus group discussion sessions. The study provides unique information on respondents’ attitude, self-efficacy, and subjective norm to sexual violence whistleblowing. It also provides information on self-reported sexual violence experiences, whistleblowing intention, reporting systems in higher institutions and the preferred sexual violence whistleblowing mechanisms.

Conclusions

In this data note, we provide a detailed account of the variables in the dataset and then highlight the potential of this study to contribute to improved sexual violence reporting in higher education institutions, thereby reducing the occurrence of the social menace.