As part of the efforts to curb the incidents of sexual harassment in Nigerian higher institutions, an organization called the Campus Campaign Against Sexual Harassment (C-CASH), has partnered with the Gender and Development Policy Centre (GEN-CENT) at the University of Nigeria to host a symposium meant to sensitize staff and students about the various dimensions of sexual harassments using a blend of drama, visual exhibitions and verbal discussions.
The event which held at the University of Nigeria on Friday, was supported by a grant from the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP). It attracted participants from the World Health Organisation (WHO), human right activists, student bodies, lecturers and civil society organisations.
Speaking on the essence of the event titled “Make We Yan: A Community Engagement Event to Tackle Incidents of Sexual Harassment), the Director of C-CASH, Dr Ikechukwu Erojikwe, said that the target was to escalate the campaign against sexual harassment in universities using an integrated approach that involves dramatizing the challenge and its consequences, visual images that depict the acts and audio sensitizations in radio and seminars.
Erojikwe, a Senior Lecturer at the UNN’s Department of Film and Theatre Studies explained that the University of Nigeria would be the launchpad to spread the campaign to other Nigerian Universities, stating that he and his group would inaugurate similar campaign at the University of Pretoria, in South-Africa.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Romanus Ezeokonkwo, in his welcome address, said that the University has zero tolerance for any form of sexual harassment and would support efforts meant to eradicate the menace in the institution.
The Vice-Chancellor, who spoke through the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Uju Clara Umo urged students of the University to take advantage of the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy and report cases of sexual misconduct by lecturers and their fellow students.
Professor Anthonia Achike, the Director Of GEN-CENT, UNN talked the participants through the provisions of the UNN’s Sexual Harassment Policy, urging students, who might be afraid of victimization and stigmatization, to use anonymous link provided on the University’s website to make their reports.
Dr Ejike Orji, the Chairman of the Management Committee of the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning in Nigeria (AAFP) called for increased awareness through education and advocacy on the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment in Nigerian higher institutions.
He urged Nigerian schools to enact and enforce comprehensive policies that prioritize the protection and support of students and hold perpetrators accountable.
Dr Orji who delivered the keynote speech titled “Breaking the Silence: Addressing Sexual Harassment in Nigerian Schools” at the event advocated for the need for university authorities to collaborate with students, parents, teachers and community leaders to foster a culture of reporting, support and collective action against sexual harassment in higher institutions.
Panel discussion at the event featured Sylvia Opinia from the WHO, students representatives, Dorothy Njemanze, from Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, the Artistic Director of Arojah Royal Theatre; a clergy man, Rev.Fr Emmanuel Asogwa; Deputy Director of GEN-CENT, Prof. Raymond Adibe, among others.
