President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the termination of appointment of whosoever is found culpable of sexual harassment in the nation’s ivory towers.
Speaking at the 46th convocation ceremony of the Obafeml Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Saturday, the President, who was represented by the Director, Academic Planning of National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Abiodun Saliu, commended OAU for dealing with perpetrators in the University.
The President asked other Universities in the country to take a cue from OAU and do the needful without further delay.
“I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment.
“In fact, this University deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong, without minding whose ox is gored.
“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate O.A.U in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls.
“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses,” Buhari added.
Also speaking, the Chancellor of the University, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Dr) Yahaya Abubakar, identified education as the greatest investment parents can make in their children.
He noted that knowledge and skills acquired through education will give them the confidence to know that they are already equipped to achieve everything in life.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, disclosed that a total number of 6,542 graduands from two Colleges, 13 Faculties and various institutes were turned out at the 46th convocation ceremony.
