She stated further that she had advised her to stop the ‘runs’ but all to no avail. “I did ask her to stop. To me, her excuse was not tenable because I know her family was not that poor.”
She said that her friend returns with an average of N20,000 to N30,000. But that she would never resort to it, adding that if she was in need of money, she’d rather talk to her parents and family members instead of embarking on sex work.
Dorothy further said that some even do it with desperation, going as far as using charms on their unsuspecting male patrons in order to get huge amount of money from them.
Girls from higher institutions now flock into parties in many cities of Nigeria. Most times the agents who are fellow students organise them. Their presence is common not only in cities that have tertiary institutions but also the ones near and far. They are the Aristos in the social circles. They are everywhere. In parties organised by individuals, companies, political parties and very interestingly in many government houses, you find Aristos bubbling and ever ready to serve men who could be their grandfathers. It underscores how values have descended.
In a high class party in Warri last year which one of our reporters attended, the venue became colouful and warm when two buses, loaded with Aristos, arrived. The guests had a field day.
Hours after a CAF match in one of the Nigerian cities ended a party was on at the Government House to celebrate the victory. Aristos flooded the place. A top government official had booked for them. The party was interesting but so weird that a few guys went away with more than one Aristo. Orgy is not uncommon among Aristos once the pay is good.
Poverty, desperation or plain greed?
The question of poverty may not be the absolute reason why many young female students take to this lifestyle but it surely contributes in some cases. However, findings show that it is usually more pronounced in girls who transit from living a normal school life, after a few Aristo runs, to living big and thereafter a struggle to maintaining the lifestyle to which they have become familiar. A posh naive female student with a taste for trendy clothes, shoes and designer handbags would be vulnerable to such act. She would go for the ‘less stress, more money runs’ with some randy executives for a night to maintain the lifestyle she chose for herself.
Nike, a 300 level student at UNILAG corroborated the idea saying: “it is a lifestyle and not about poverty as people say. Why can’t they do something more dignifying than
flirting around? Why is it that when they get some money that could set them up for a business they still don’t stop their trade? Why are they stuck in this immoral act? Some of them make so much money that you will agree that it has to do with morals otherwise they would quit if it was all about poverty. You will see them buying and wearing expensive clothes, shoes and handbags. Is that poverty?” Nike queried.
But what do you say of a girl returning to the campus and the parents give her just about N20,000 for her school fees and upkeep? There are some students in tertiary institutions who even get less. The boys struggle, appealing to one uncle or the other to help out. Some do odd jobs to survive. Some of the girls who suffer such poverty also approach relations to help. But many resort to runs in schools to make up. And once they start making money and living bigger than they were they find it difficult to quit.
Reacting to the situation, a mother, Mrs. Ayodele Kolawole, a retired teacher said: “It is frightening because you don’t know what these children are doing outside and you can’t be with them. I am confident about what my children do, but sometimes you can’t underestimate the peer pressure. I used to tell my children about all sorts of pressure in the university because I passed through the system. But to a large extent, I think it has to do with poverty. If a student has everything she needs, I don’t think she will involve herself in this act. Home training is also important, parents have a lot to do to lay good foundation for their children. This issue has to be resolved immediately because with diseases nowadays our children are at risk.”
Queen as she is fondly called, was indifferent when she told Saturday Vanguard that she was in the business simply for the love of money and sex. She targets men who have just arrived the country from abroad because they “have more cash to splash.” She said: “I just love sex; no condition pushed me into that. I love the money too, so I go for what I want.”
Sadly, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, is also known to be the spot for campus prostitution. Its closeness to places like Yaba, Surulere, ensures a constant flow of wealthy ‘customers’. Chidinma Akpan (not real name) a female student who spoke to Saturday Vanguard stays at the popular Moremi Hostel, notorious for housing such girls.
Navigate using <-> arrows below
Discussion about this post