In a bid to ensure and sustain a campus that is free from all forms of
sexual harassment, the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI),
Ebonyi State, recently held a sensitization workshop on sexual
harassment for staff and students. The workshop was organized by the
University Committee on Sexual harassment.
The Committee is one of the
first Committees the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba
constituted on assumption of office, underscoring his goal of running a
university devoid of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment has been described as one of the worst cankerworms
bedeviling the Nigerian education system, with serious consequences on
the victims, culprits and image of affected institutions.
This informed
the enactment of the Sexual Harassment Act of 2016 by the federal
government with dire consequences on anyone found guilty of the offence.
In fact, the Act stipulates a 5-year jail term for offenders and a
2-year imprisonment for Vice-chancellors and Heads of other tertiary and
sundry institutions that fail to act after 2 weeks of receiving a
harassment complaint.
Welcoming the participants to the event, the Chair of University
Committee on Sexual Harassment, Dr. Ngozi Nwudu noted that the
sensitization programme was initiated to move the wheels of sanity in
the University. She maintained that the event was to create awareness on
the evils of sexual harassment, adding that it has become a menace in
institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.
She therefore urged staff of the University to serve as
parents-in-loco to the students that were entrusted into their care
instead of taking undue advantage of them. She also cautioned the
students against exhibiting actions that could predispose them to any
form of sexual harassment on campus.
“…Do not intimidate the students and do not lure them into sexual
immorality by virtue of your position as a lecturer. Do not sexually
harass any student in exchange for scores or threat of failure”, she
stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and the Director of Academic
Planning, Professor Dr. Jonny Ogunji stated that the sensitization
program was informed by the need to get the new students of the
university acquainted with their new environment, and giving them the
opportunity to arm themselves with useful information that could help
them resist any form of sexual harassment on campus.
He noted that
FUNAI was aspiring to be a world-class university; therefore, sexual
harassment is not tolerated in the institution at all.
Hear him: “Sexual harassment is against our laws, and students have
the right to have education that is free from sexual harassment.”
He also cautioned the students against indecent dressing,
prostitution, drug abuse, and other vices that could derail their goal
of studying at the university and graduating at record time. He equally
enjoined the staff to treat the students with respect and without
exploitation, as anyone caught harassing students sexually would be made
to face the full weight of the law.
Thought-provoking lectures were presented by some resources persons, all
highlighting the dangers inherent in sexual harassment and the need to
have a campus free from such menace. Dr. Nneka Onwumere of the
University Medical Centre spoke on: “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary
Institutions: Myth or Reality”; Dr.Kelechi Johnmary Ani of the
department of History and Strategic Studies/Philosophy delivered a paper
on “Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions: Implications for
Academic Performance”, while Dr. John Otu of the department of
Languages/Linguistics/Literary Studies spoke on ‘Sexual Harassment in
Tertiary Institutions: Implications for Teacher – Staff Relationship and
Self-Esteem.
No comments:
Post a comment