By Gabriella Ogbu
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s university education sector have come together to brainstorm long-term and systemic solutions to ensure a safe learning environment in the nation’s higher institutions. The Federal Ministry of Education (FME), the National Universities Commission (NUC), and university-based unions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), participated in a one-day residential consultation in Abuja.
Organized by Alliances for Africa (AFA), a non-governmental group, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Centre for Gender Studies, the consultation aimed to address the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
Mr. Chris J. Maiyaki, acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, praised AFA’s initiative for bringing stakeholders together to discuss the menace of sexual harassment and work towards changing the narrative. He highlighted the Commission’s efforts to bring the issue to the attention of university administrators and ensure that it is addressed.
Delivered by Ms. Rita Nneka Okonjo, Acting Director of Students (DoS) at NUC, Maiyaki’s message revealed that the Commission is drafting a policy on sexual harassment to reduce its prevalence in universities. He also emphasized that the NUC’s quality assurance visits to universities have been instrumental in encouraging ethical conduct among committee members handling sexual harassment cases.
“The primary goal of the NUC has always been to provide students with a mechanism to report sexual harassment without fear of repercussions,” Maiyaki stated. He also noted that in June 2016, the NUC collaborated with UNESCO to develop a Gender Studies curriculum for the Nigerian University System (NUS), integrating it into both General Studies (GST) and specialized programs.
Alliances for Africa’s Executive Director, Mrs. Iheoma Obibi, set the tone for the event by highlighting the organization’s initiative to address gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment. She emphasized the growing incidences and long-term impact of such issues in universities and expressed her commitment to creating a safe learning environment where gender discrimination is entirely eliminated.
Obibi urged stakeholders to recognize the importance of education in developing upright members of society and the necessity of ensuring their safety. She called on the appropriate agencies and the university community, particularly unions, to rise to the occasion to alleviate the constant embarrassment caused by sexual harassment in the educational system.
During panel discussions, the NUC team proposed creating an online platform for students to report sexual harassment discreetly and raising awareness about multi-faceted reporting systems involving parents, friends, and colleagues.
ASUU President Professor Emmanuel Osedeke agreed that a collective effort is needed to eliminate sexual harassment in universities. He cited the abandonment of rigorous recruitment processes since the late 1990s as a significant contributor to the problem. Osedeke suggested regular sensitization programs for students and university staff on sexual harassment and imposing strict sanctions on offenders.
The consultation concluded with several key recommendations:
- Enhanced Reporting Mechanisms: Establishing an online platform for discreet reporting of sexual harassment and raising awareness about multi-faceted reporting systems.
- Regular Sensitization: Conducting lectures, symposiums, and discussions on sexual harassment for students and staff.
- Strict Enforcement: Imposing sanctions on offenders in accordance with existing laws and university regulations.
- Improved Recruitment Processes: Reinstituting rigorous recruitment processes to ensure the integrity of academic staff.
- Support Systems: Encouraging the establishment of support systems for victims, including counseling services and legal assistance.
The stakeholders emphasized that university autonomy is crucial for national growth and educational advancement, allowing institutions to operate free from bureaucratic constraints and better serve students. They called for increased budgetary allocations to education and strengthening alumni associations and community partnerships to enhance the university experience.
