The Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promptly approve the Sexual Harassment Prohibition in Tertiary Education Institutions Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly.
This action, as per GMI, would reinforce his dedication to the welfare of Nigerian students and help combat the issue of sexual harassment prevalent in the country’s higher education institutions.
GMI emphasizes that tackling this problem isn’t just a moral obligation but also constitutes a national emergency, necessitating rapid and resolute measures to be taken.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja as part of activities lined up for this year’s 16 Days of Activism, GMI Lead Director, Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi, said Nigerian tertiary institutions had emerged as hotspots for power-driven sexual harassment.
According to her, the institutions meant to foster education and personal growth had become breeding grounds for abuse, particularly affecting the lives of female students, which she said had remained inadequately addressed as highlighted in a 2018 survey by the World Bank Group’s Women, Business, and Law.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s commitment to education with his recent assent to the Students Loan Bill, Ogunrotimi submitted that the President had to create an enabling environment where students have healthy, safe and equitable access to education by assenting to the bill prohibiting sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
According to her, “Addressing sexual harassment in tertiary institutions is not just a moral imperative but a national emergency that demands swift and decisive action.
“The President’s action, or lack thereof, will send a powerful message about the nation’s values and its dedication to fostering an environment where every student particularly female students can thrive.
“As we commemorate the 16 days of activism, our hope is anchored in the belief that immediate action from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, specifically the prompt signing of the Sexual Harassment Prohibition in Tertiary Education Institutions Bill, will mark a significant milestone in the fight against sexual harassment.”
She noted that the delay in giving presidential assent to the bill has left a void in collective efforts and expressed the hope that, “the President’s commitment to the well-being of Nigerian students will translate into swift and resolute action.”
The GMI Lead Director informed that alarming statistics revealed that 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions had been subjected to sexual harassment and described this as an epidemic proportion indicative of systemic and structural deficits.
“These distressing figures are not merely statistics; they represent the lived experiences of countless young women whose educational journey has been marred by the insidious spectre of harassment.
“The recent student protest and the brave outcry against the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, whose history is marred by allegations of sexual harassment and rape, underscores the urgency for systemic change and serves as a wake-up call, compelling us to confront the gravity of the issue and demand immediate action to protect the rights and well-being of students across the nation,” she said.
She submitted that sexual harassment in tertiary institutions
was an epidemic that jeopardised the integrity of the education system and the well-being of students, especially female students.
“The epidemic proportion of this issue serves as a poignant reminder that we must address the root causes and implement robust measures to dismantle the culture of harassment that pervades our institutions of higher learning,” she asserted.
She added that the absence of a dedicated legal framework, which leaves a critical gap that must be filled to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of collective efforts against sexual harassment.
“The Sexual Harassment Prohibition in Tertiary Education Institutions Bill presents a promising solution.
“This comprehensive legislation is crafted to address the nuances of sexual harassment, providing a clear definition of offenses, establishing stringent penalties for perpetrators, and outlining mechanisms for the prevention and redress of sexual harassment,” she informed.
. TheWitness
