Experts Advocate Strict Sanctions To Tackle Menace Of SGBV

Amid the war against sexual violence, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade has advocated sanctions against tertiary institutions without a policy document to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in tertiary institutions across the country.

She made the recommendation at the dissemination/validation workshop on research on ending SGBV in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, “Acting Together to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Tertiary Institutions,” held at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The Tetfund sponsored Research group’s Principal Investigator, Obilade, insisted that the National University Commission and other relevant institutions should look at denying culpable tertiary institutions accreditations as the case may be as part of punitive measures.

Also, in his goodwill message at the event, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Amb. Gabriel Tanimu Adidas, implored stakeholders to continue holding one another accountable for addressing the root causes of SGBV.

Adidas stressed the need to ensure proper sanctions are meted out on perpetrators as stipulated in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition ACT 2015 in the process of carrying out justice for victims and survivors of SGBV in Nigeria tertiary institutions.

He expressed optimism that the research findings will undoubtedly help in policy formulation and strategy that will ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students especially the female students who are often victims of SGBV.

Disseminating the research findings, Dr. Lanre Ikuteyijo noted that the research was carried out in tertiary institutions across the country.

According to him, few institutions including the Obafemi Awolowo University and Kaduna State University have standard policies to stem the trend of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.