Audience Perception of Sex for Grades in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions: A Contemporary Review of Social Media Reactions to the 2019 BBC African Eye Report By Kiki Mordi

Abstract

Through its watchdog role, the media has given a voice to all social actors, and it has maintained an objective stance in addressing vices that degrade public morale and supporting those that strengthen the country. The BBC African Eye Documentary Channel has over time become a legacy medium that has continuously reflected the realities of our time.The study relies on the frame of exemplification theory to stipulate the nature of mass media audience judgement to the BBC African Eye Documentary about 'Sex for Grade' which the social media seems to sustain.The study addressed the topic of "sex for grades" as presented in the 2019 BBC African Eye documentary by Kiki Mordi on relationships between female students and male lecturers. The documentary citation was investigated as a medium assisting in reducing the scourge of "sex for grades" in Nigerian higher institutions using discourse analysis elicited qualitatively through an assessment of community of social media comments sustained over time.This study revealed that commenters expressed their opinions on the BBC broadcast on sex for grades on its social platform repositories which has a way of sustaining responses and reactions for the social discourse.