On Thursday, heads of tertiary institutions and other stakeholders called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assent to the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill, 2023.
The call was made in Abuja at the Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Cluster a strategic engagement meeting convened by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Cluster, a consortium of different Civil Society Organizations working to contribute to addressing the prevalence of sexual harassment in tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria.
The strategic meeting aimed to discuss the effort of the participants in addressing sexual harassment in their respective institutions, and to leverage collaboration to solicit consent for the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill.
A Communique issued at the end of the meeting observed that despite efforts made by institutions across the country, the rate of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria is still worrisomely high.
According to the communique, some of the contributing factors include the absence of a uniform law that directly addresses sexual harassment, professional chauvinism characterized by prejudiced support for one’s group, and fear of persecution after reporting.
The communique recommended assent of the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill, 2023 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Some of the meeting commitments are that heads of tertiary institutions and relevant stakeholders should set up an Independent Sexual Harassment Prohibition Committee in their various institutions, and support the establishment of Campaign Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) clubs in their respective institutions.
The heads of tertiary institutions and all stakeholders also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to kindly assent to the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions (Prohibition) Bill, 2023 to promote confidence and all-round well-being in tertiary educational institutions nationwide.
The communique was signed by
Dr. Isaac O. Miller Federal College of Education (Tech), Akoka
Bashir Mamman Mohammed Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna
Engr. Hatim Miftah Garba Federal College of Agric. Prod Tech, Kano
Shehu Umar Dumbulun Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano State
Dr. Tunde Gabriel A. Federal College of Education (Tech) Gombe
Auwaln Umar Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Prof. Ayoka Mopelola Olusakin University of Lagos, Akoka
Eme Etop Imah Akwa Ibom State University
Eduma E. Essien Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osuro
Dick, Angela Ngozi Centre for Gender Studies, Veritas University.
Dr. (Mrs) Mercy D. Ebong Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom State
Hassana Yahaya Bello Gombe State University
