A female industrial trainee has shared a harrowing account of sexual harassment and abuse of power at the hands of her supervisor, who allegedly refused to sign her logbook because she rejected his advances.
In a viral social media post, the young woman detailed months of sustained pressure, daily monetary transfers disguised as "lunch money," and a final, chilling ultimatum: visit his house to retrieve her signed logbook, or face an automatic extra year in training.
"Sir, Aren't You Married?"
According to her account, the harassment began days after she was posted to the organization. Her married supervisor—whose family resides outside Nigeria and whom he reportedly visits only once every three months—pulled her aside to express romantic interest.
"I asked, 'Sir, aren't you married?' He admitted he was, but said his family lived outside Nigeria," she wrote.
She declined clearly and respectfully: "Sir, I don't do married men oo."
The rejection did not deter him. He began sending her money daily, framing it as "lunch money," and repeatedly invited her to his residence. Each time, she offered excuses he could not contest.
A Father's Counsel
Behind the scenes, the trainee had confided in her father, whose advice was measured but firm: "Be careful, and never step foot in that man's house."
She followed that instruction to the letter.
The Final Ultimatum
Three days before her Industrial Training (IT) programme concluded, she submitted her logbook for his signature. He collected it, offered a noncommittal "Okay," and waited.
On her final day, the supervisor delivered his demand.
"You'll have to come to my house to pick it, or forget about it," he told her plainly. Without the signed document, she faced an automatic extension of her training by one full year.
One Phone Call
She walked out and called her father. She gave him the supervisor's phone number.
What transpired next is not known in detail. Minutes later, however, the supervisor walked into the general office, placed the signed logbook on the table, and announced loudly for all to hear: "Congratulations."
Systemic Problem, Individual Courage
The young woman's ordeal has reignited conversations about the vulnerability of female interns and students in workplace environments, where supervisors wield disproportionate power over trainees' academic progression.
Her decision to report the harassment to her father—and his decisive intervention—offered her a measure of justice that many victims never receive.
The supervisor's swift reversal following a single phone call raises uncomfortable questions about what, or who, he feared more: exposure, accountability, or consequences from someone whose authority he could not ignore.
As of press time, the organization in question has not issued a statement. The trainee, who has since completed her programme, has not named her supervisor or employer publicly.
Her story, however, joins a growing catalogue of testimonies from young Nigerians demanding safer, more dignified pathways through mandatory internship programmes.
Posts
0 Comments