Sexual Harassment: Presidency Vows To Deal With Offenders

The presidency has vowed to deal with perpetrators of Gender-based Violence against female undergraduates using sanctions, which included suspension, expulsion and prosecution.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon, stated this during an event to commemorate 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that seeks the elimination of violence against Women.

He said Gender-based violence has for a long time been a persistent issue in tertiary institutions across Nigeria and remains a distressing reality on colleges and university campuses with consequences stretching into stunted academic and personal growth, among other negatives.

“My office is not unmindful of the prevalence Of Gender-Based Violence against female undergraduates In Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria and the widespread allegations of sex-for-mark in some educational institutions in the Country and the fact that most students who are targeted hardly come forward with complaints.

“I want to assure you all that we are taking urgent steps in collaborating with stakeholders for a renewed fight against the scourge.

“Our Commitment is to ensure that punishments are meted out to perpetrators of Gender-based Violence against female undergraduates including suspension, expulsion and prosecution.

“I want to assure Nigerian Students today that our father, Mr. President will assent to the bill that seeks to criminalise the act of neglect or failure of administrative heads of tertiary educational institutions to address complaints of sexual harassment,” Asefon added.