Minister, student leaders agree to DSS intervention in cases of sexual harassment in universities, form integrity groups.

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye joined by student leaders across the country have asked for the Department of State Services (DSS)’ discreet investigation of the sexual harassment allegation against the former Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, whose law students carried placard in demonstration against, recently.

At a meeting convened by the Honourable Minister on Monday, 25th September, 2023 and held at the Conference Room on the 4th Floor Ministry’s Headquarters, the student leaders who attended in their numbers resolved not to allow sentiments from any quarter to becloud their judgements on any issue, especially issues of rampant sexual harassment in schools.

Some of the students in attendance include Comrade Princess Omoniyi Alice, the President, Association of Nigeria Female Students; Comrade Adaeze Anita Isamade, the Deputy Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria; Comrade Obaji Marshall, the President of National Association of University Students; Okafor Esther Ifoma, the Director, Women Affairs, Empowerment & Academic, Nnamdi Azikwe University (UniZik), Awka, Anambra State; Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, the Chairman of Coordinators of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Sanni Musa Jibril, the Chairman, Northern Students of National Presidents’ Forum of Students.

“We will use the University of Calabar (UniCal)’s case on how best to handle sexual harassment. We want substantial justice to everyone involved, especially those who alleged harassment.”

The meeting of the Minister and the students, also attended by the Directors of the Ministry as well as Advisers and Assistants of the Honourable Minister dissected all the issues in the UniCal case and saw the need to invite the DSS to intervene before any indicted person faces the law.

Esther Ifoma, the Director, Women Affairs, Empowerment & Academic, Nnamdi Azikwe University (UniZik), Awka, Anambra State recounted issues which promoted sexual harassment: “These happen more from lecturers who prey on students with low-self-esteem thus prompting sex-for-grades.”

She also puts up “unsolicited compliments where lecturer or university official compliments a lady on her beauty, countless times in a day.”

Esther also condemns a situation where under-aged girls “who don’t know their left from their rights, gained admission to universities” and such are easily preyed upon by randy male lecturers.

The meeting of the management of the Ministry with the student leaders therefore resolved to establish Integrity Brigade to be formed by the student bodies on campuses. These will be supported by the ministry, to report to and relate with the DSS on issues of sexual harassment. For this, the minister, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye warned students across the country that the integrity brigade when operational, will leave them with no option than to be hardworking at their studies. It will imply that students too will be monitored as not to go seek lecturers for sex-for-grades.

Signed.
Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Press & Public Relations.