The prevalence of sexual harassment in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions has reached alarming levels, with reports indicating that 60 percent of female students face some form of sexual harassment during their studies.
This troubling development was the focus of a one-day engagement organized by Alliances for Africa (AfA), where stakeholders agreed that immediate and long-term attention is needed to address the issue. The event underscored the impact of sexual harassment on victims, students, staff, and the institutions themselves.
AfA Director of Programmes, Mrs. Blessing Duru, presented an overview of the situation, noting that despite existing policies, enforcement remains weak, and victims often face stigmatization and reprisals. She highlighted that perpetrators, including faculty members and fellow students, exploit a culture of silence and impunity, with only a small fraction of incidents being reported due to fear of retaliation.
Duru stressed the need for a coordinated effort to create awareness, educate communities, and implement robust measures to protect and support victims while holding perpetrators accountable. She challenged the media to play a critical role in this effort.
**Key Findings and Statistics:**
– Over 60 percent of female students reported experiencing sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
– Faculty members account for nearly 40 percent of reported cases.
– Less than 10 percent of victims report incidents due to fear of stigmatization and lack of trust in reporting mechanisms.
– Many institutions lack effective policies and enforcement mechanisms, leading to a culture of impunity.
– Victims often suffer from psychological trauma, academic underperformance, and a sense of insecurity.
**Recommendations:**
– Universities must implement and enforce stronger policies to protect students from harassment.
– Institutions should create effective reporting mechanisms and support systems for victims.
– Government and stakeholders need to provide the necessary resources and support to combat sexual harassment effectively.
Executive Director of AfA, Mrs. Iheoma Obibi, expressed concern over lecturers preying on female students and called for concrete measures to protect them. Journalist and lawyer Mr. Tobi Soniyi highlighted the need for responsible media reporting and continuous follow-up on harassment cases to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
Pro-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing a system to minimize sexual harassment and ensure that perpetrators face justice. He suggested practical measures such as keeping office doors open during meetings with female students to prevent misconduct.
The meeting also noted some egregious cases of harassment, including instances where lecturers forced victims to comply under threat or used intermediaries to harass students, making it difficult for victims to report.
**Observations:**
– Sexual harassment is prevalent and underreported in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
– Gender unit heads in many institutions lack adequate knowledge and training to address harassment effectively.
– Survivors and reporters of harassment lack protection from retaliation.
– Committees addressing harassment are often male-dominated and fail to produce actionable reports.
– Media houses often lack the resources to investigate harassment cases thoroughly.
– Policies addressing sexual harassment are inconsistently applied.
**Recommendations:**
– Establish committees in institutions to evaluate the qualifications of heads of gender units.
– Engage all stakeholders, including media, government agencies, civil society, and educational institutions, in a collective effort to eradicate sexual harassment.
– Provide necessary support and resources for the successful implementation of these measures.
The stakeholders’ communique affirmed that addressing sexual harassment requires a concerted effort from all sectors to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all students.
