Though universities are supposed to be citadels of learning and centres of excellence, their collective reputation has been seriously damaged by reports of sexual harassment in many of these institutions. The Federal Government’s directive to these universities to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to address cases of sexual harassment, gender-based violence and students offering lecturers sex in exchange for good grades on campuses points to the concern in highest quarters over these reports.
At a recent national summit on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, called on the universities to “prioritize the establishment of SARCs to ensure timely intervention and support for survivors within their communities.” According to her, there are only 47 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This, she said, was far from enough. While highlighting government’s commitment to champion gender equality and eradicate gender-based violence, the minister announced FG’s plans to unveil nationwide campaign against sexual harassment in collaboration with universities and other stakeholders.
No doubt, sexual assault is quite prevalent in many of our universities. In 2019, the BBC Africa Eye documentary, titled ‘Sex for Grades’, revealed sexual escapades of some lecturers in the University of Lagos and University of Ghana in Accra. Following the investigation of the matter, the University of Lagos later sacked the two lecturers involved in the documentary.
A few days ago, the Federal University in Oye Ekiti cleared Ms Ramota Olahanloye to graduate after the re-marking of her final-year exam scripts. Olahanloye had accused a lecturer, Dr. Anthony Agbegbedia, of deliberately failing her in her two final-year courses because she refused his sexual advances. In 2018, a court in Osun State sentenced a lecturer, Richard Akindele, to two years in prison for sexual harassment of his student, Monica Osagie. Last year, some law students of the University of Calabar accused their dean, Professor Cyril Ndifon, of sexual harassment. Though Ndifon denied it, the university authorities suspended him and he is currently on trial for the alleged offence.
A World Bank survey in 2018 indicated that 70 per cent of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions had been sexually harassed in school by lecturers and fellow students. In a recent report, the Alliance for Africa (AFA) and the Committee of Gender Directors in Nigerian Universities (CGDNU) noted that 63 per cent of female students had been sexually harassed in 12 universities. These 12 universities are Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State; University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Kaduna State University, Kaduna State; Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State; Nasarawa State University, Nasarawa State; University of Jos, Plateau State; Bayero University, Kano, Kano State; Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State; University of Lagos, Lagos State; University of Ibadan, Oyo State; and University of Abuja, FCT. This is quite unfortunate.
Outside the campuses, female students also face serious sexual harassment and even rape in some cases. In 2020, a 100-level student of the University of Benin, Miss Uwaila Omozuwa, was raped and murdered inside a church in Benin City. The same year, some hoodlums raped Miss Barakat Bello, a student of the Federal College of Animal and Production Technology, Apata, Ibadan, at her home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and hacked her to death. Experts estimate that, globally, about 35 per cent of women have experienced one form of sexual harassment or the other in their lifetime. The worst is that some of them are seen as liars and willing accomplices.
The emotional and psychological trauma these victims of sexual assault go through, especially in the universities, cannot be imagined. Some of them suffer low self-esteem and have trouble concentrating in class. Sometimes, they even think of leaving school.
So far, the initiatives to combat this problem appear not working effectively. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 has only been domesticated in a few states. Also, the Sexual Harassment Bill passed by the 9th Senate in July 2020 does not have presidential assent yet. It proposes two years imprisonment for lecturers found guilty of sexual harassment.
University authorities should encourage victims to report any sexual harassment early enough. Measures should be put in place to protect those who may wish to report such harassment from victimization or stigmatization. This will require creating safe and several anonymous reporting options for the victims. School authorities should also provide such victims with counselling and legal assistance.
Every higher institution must have a clear-cut policy on sexual harassment and the punishment that follows when such act is committed. Schools should create awareness on these measures and the rights of students to seek redress in case of violation.