From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
A recent virtual validation meeting convened by HEIR Women Hub (HWH) exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s fight against workplace sexual harassment, with research revealing widespread policy non-compliance and systemic failures in enforcement.
Supported by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) under the KASA! Initiative, the meeting united gender advocates, policymakers, and civil society to address what speakers called a “silent epidemic” undermining workforce safety and productivity.
HWH’s study, conducted across 10 organizations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), found that while 60% of employees believed their workplaces had sexual harassment policies, most had never seen or understood them. Over 94% of respondents acknowledged sexual harassment as a pervasive issue, with 78% attributing prevention responsibility to employers. However, 50% reported never receiving anti-harassment training, and 20% expressed distrust in internal reporting systems.
Executive Secretary of Lagos State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, opened with a stark warning: “Sexual harassment isn’t merely a rights violation-it sabotages productivity and inclusion. Policies alone are insufficient; they must become living documents that enforce accountability. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency recognizes this issue creates hostile environments, hinders organizational success, and inflicts lasting harm on employees.”
Vivour-Adeniyi stressed the urgency of translating guidelines into action:
“This research provides evidence-based insights into policy adoption gaps. It will empower us to collaborate with organizations, ensuring workplaces are harassment-free. We’re actively engaging the private sector to provide training and technical assistance. Today’s meeting is pivotal to validating findings and charting actionable strategies.”
HWH’s Executive Director, Añuli Aniebo, presented alarming findings from their Federal Capital Territory (FCT) study:
“Our research across 10 organizations shows 60% of employees believe their workplaces have harassment policies-yet most cannot locate or explain them. While 78% say prevention is an employer’s duty, 50% report never receiving anti-harassment training. Internal reporting systems exist, but 20% distrust them, and many remain unused.”
Aniebo detailed the five-year study’s evolution: “Starting with Ford Foundation support, we confirmed harassment’s prevalence. Now, we’re dissecting why it persists: gaps in policy implementation, normalized abuse, and institutional apathy. Our mixed-method approach-surveying 50 employees and conducting in-depth interviews-revealed 94% acknowledge harassment as a crisis. This demands urgent, systemic intervention.”
Chief Social Welfare Officer of the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat, Jacinta Ike, closed with a rallying call: “Effective policies aren’t just regulatory-they reflect our collective duty to ensure dignity. Let’s build a future where every individual works free from harassment, with respect as a non-negotiable value.”
The meeting concluded with demands for mandatory training, whistleblower protections, and simplified policy dissemination. As Aniebo asserted, “Strong policies, properly implemented, will make workplaces safer for everyone.”