By Prisca Nguzo
Over 60 percent of female students in Nigeria tertiary institutions suffer psychological trauma as a result of being sexually harassed by their lectures and other staff of the school.
This was disclosed by Ms. Iheoma Obibi, Executive Director, Alliances for Africa, AfA, an African feminist non-governmental organisation following the survey the group conducted in about twelve tertiary institutions in the country recently.
Speaking in a one-day Residential Consultation with Media Editors towards addressing Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions held at Bolton White Hotel, Abuja on Monday, Obibi reiterated the urgency for all stakeholders, media practitioners and other concerned organisations to partner in effort aimed at tackling the menace.
According to her, sexual harassment is prevalent and has become a cankerworm in the fabric of the nation; adding that its impact do not only negatively affect the survivors, but the reputation of the institution in which it occurs and the society at large.
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She advocated for a stringent measures to be adopted by the government, security agencies and the administrators of tertiary institutions to help mitigate the menace as well as ensure that the perpetrators are persecuted accordingly to serve as a deterrent to other sexual abusers.
Collaborating Ms. Obibi, the AfA Programme Director, Ms. Blessing Duru said that sexual harassment in Nigeria tertiary institutions remains a pervasive issues, underming the safety and dignity of students and the staff.
She expressed concern that despite the existence of policies and regulations, their enforcement is often weak and victims face stigmatisation and reprisals.
Duru stated that many female student lives have been ruined by the menace as some victims drop out of school, some avoided classes leading to academic under-performance; while others resorted to taking their lives because of the psychological trauma or stigmatisation suffered.
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She opined that, "addressing the issue requires a coordinated effort to create awareness, educate the community and implement robust measures to protect and support victims while holding perpetrators accountable to the crime."
Ms. Duru further sued for adoption of gender studies as course of study in Nigeria tertiary institutions to help promote or to foster foundational reorientation to bring changes in behaviour and responsiveness to issue of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions of the country.
In attendance of the meeting were Prof. Chike Odinkalu, a renowned human rights activist and academia; Prof. Talatu Razinat Muhammad of the University of Abuja; Barr. Tobi Soniyi, Deputy News Director, Arise Television, Mrs. Hussiena Akila (MNI) of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN; Mr. Misikulu Mojeed of the Premium Times; Mr. Yusuf Ali of the Nation Newspaper among other media chiefs.
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