In Nigerian universities today, many students struggle with hunger, rising transport costs, and the high cost of living. However, beneath these daily struggles lies another harsh reality — a growing number of female students are trading sex for survival.
What began as a means for some students to make ends meet has now evolved into a thriving underground trade. Across campuses from Lagos to Benin, Owerri to Calabar, the story is the same — “runs,” “aristo,” or “hookup” is now part of campus culture. Furthermore, sadly, many of the girls involved are no longer ashamed of it.
Elizabeth (not her real name), a student of the University of Benin, shared how it all started for her. “After my father died, things became hard. My friend introduced me to some rich men who paid me after parties. At first, I was scared, but when I made ₦10,000 in one night, I could not stop,” she said quietly.
From that night, she became part of a growing group of campus girls who sleep with wealthy men—businessmen, politicians, and even government officials—for money. These girls are now called “Aristos,” a slang term that means high-class prostitutes. They are different from regular sex workers on the street because they operate quietly, often through student “agents” who connect them to clients.
At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), a student named Chidinma (not real name) said, “Some girls even act as pimps. They link other girls to men for a cut of the money. There are also lounges and bars outside campus that use female students to entertain rich guests. Some of these girls are recruited through WhatsApp groups or private parties.”
An owner of a popular student lounge around Yaba, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that “many girls come here not just to buy drinks or relax. They come looking for big men. Some lounges even organise ‘ladies’ nights’ where girls are handpicked by guests.”
While some of the girls say poverty pushed them into the act, others do it for the lifestyle — designer bags, wigs, and iPhones. Nike, a 300-level student at UNILAG, said bluntly, “It is not always poverty. Some girls just love money and luxury. Even when they make enough to start a business, they still go back to runs.”
Experts say the problem is more profound than financial issues. Sex education counsellor, Mr Praise Fowowe, explained that many of these girls were victims of sexual abuse and low self-esteem. “It is not only about poverty. Many of them have lost their sense of value. Parents must build confidence in their children early,” he said.
As Nigeria battles inflation and rising youth unemployment, the moral decay on campuses continues to grow. For many students, hunger and hardship have forced them into painful choices — choices that may cost them their dignity and their future.
