Following the continuous exposé of s3xual misconduct across universities in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan has reiterated its commitment to maintaining its tradition and standard of zero tolerance for s3xual harassment and misconducts as contained in its Staff and Student Information Handbooks and the revised Gender Policy and S3xual Harassment Policy as well as other allied documents earlier approved by both the Senate and Council.
Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the institution restated the commitment while speaking with representatives of Alliances for Africa and the institution’s Gender mainstreaming office when they paid a courtesy visit to his office as part of efforts to promote advocacy on s3xual harassment in tertiary institutions, adding that UI has done a lot to ensure a safe space for students.
He explained that as part of efforts to ensure that the university is proactive in preventing incidences of s3xual misconducts and the university environment is a safe space for staff and students, adding that the institution has in place a platform to investigate claims of sexual misconducts.
He added that the University of Ibadan has been committed to eradicating all forms of s3xual harassment in its community, noting that the time has come when all hands must be on deck to curb all forms of s3xual vices across tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
He said the university has cultivated a working and learning environment that reflects respect for the dignity of all members of its community and has consciously maintained it, thereby stimulating and supporting an environment free of sexual harassment, emphasizing that the university considers any act of s3xual harassment as gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the victim and academic freedom in the case of students.
Addressing the students after the courtesy visit, the programs officer of Alliance for Africa, Mrs Blessing Duru, said that the gender policies of University of Ibadan are very strong to address all forms of s3xual harassment but added that more should be done on the knowledge base of students on the content and importance of the law.
She said that Premier University stands out on gender policies in Nigeria, emphasising that there is an existing sexual harassment policy embedded in the student union handbook.
Earlier, while addressing students during a one-day summit in the university, Mrs Duru said it is important to sensitise every member of the UI community on the policies.
She specifically noted that the culture of silence must be eroded while threat to life and victimisation of survivor must come to an end. She insisted that there are cabals that are involved in victimisation of students on various campuses when students report any case of harassment, adding that this would not be allowed to thrive within the University of Ibadan.
According to her, while UI has a beautiful policy, stakeholders must come together to ensure that all students are aware of the details of the policy.
She assured the student populace that Alliances for Africa will put in place mechanism that will strengthen trust among student and support them to make a report using technology when such issues of s3xual harassment arise, adding that they will also be given psycho-social support to survivors.
The coordinator of the gender mainstreaming office, Mrs Francesca Ukpokolo on her part, urged students to speak up when there is any form of s3xual harassment, adding that no violator will be spared if reported.
She said the policies in UI has been tested and would not be left idle at any time. She further pledged to do more to ensure that s3xual and gender-based violence is reduced to the barest minimum in the University campus.
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