Critical stakeholders in the Anti-corruption crusade, Education, and Women Ministries converged in Abuja yesterday to proffer a solution to the menace of sexual abuse pervading the nation’s education sector.
At the parley, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, announced the approval of a new Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy for tertiary institutions, developed in collaboration with the Gender Mobile Initiative meant to tackle sexual abuse in the country.
The ICPC Chairman while announcing the new initiative reiterated the commitment of the Commission to pursuing justice for victims of sexual harassment in Nigeria, and emphasized the need for collective efforts from all stakeholders to implement a Model Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy designed for various educational institutions.
Speaking at a recent National Stakeholders Engagement on Sexual Harassment Prevention in Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu declared that the Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy for tertiary institutions, developed in collaboration with Gender Mobile Initiative, has been approved for implementation by the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to him, this policy represents a significant step toward combating sexual harassment in the educational sector.
Dr. Aliyu while highlighting the benefits of the event, organized in partnership with the Gender Mobile Initiative and supported by the Ford Foundation, explained that the event was aimed to address the societal issue of sexual crimes that tarnish Nigeria’s reputation.
He stressed that while the focus is on tertiary institutions, sexual harassment is also prevalent in basic and secondary institutions adding, “It is sadly interesting to note that sexual harassment, though more notorious in tertiary institutions, is quite rampant in basic and secondary institutions too,”
The Honorable Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of developing policies that create a conducive learning environment for students and protect them from sexual abuse and harassment.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders to achieve this goal.
Also, the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, expressed her willingness to collaborate with the ICPC to intensify efforts against sexual harassment and abuse of office.
She stated, “Nigerians not only want perpetrators to be apprehended but also want them to be prosecuted to restore faith in the government and the justice system.”
In a similar vein, the Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society, Honourable Victor Obuzor, called for a united front from all stakeholders to curb sexual harassment across all levels of education in Nigeria.