The Gender Mobile Initiative, a civil society organisation, has called for immediate and decisive action in the form of President Bola Tinubu’s prompt approval and implementation of the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Bill.
During a press conference in Abuja, the group highlighted the urgent need for action, portraying sexual harassment in the country’s tertiary institutions and higher education campuses as a pressing national concern.
Omowumi Ogunrotimi, the lead Director of the CSO, emphasized the bill’s potential to prevent, prohibit, and provide avenues for victims to seek justice in competent courts of law, thereby bringing perpetrators to account.
She pointed out that a World Bank survey reported that 70% of female graduates from Nigerian tertiary institutions had encountered sexual harassment. These statistics, she noted, underscore systemic and structural deficiencies.
In her remarks, Ogunrotimi stated, “The severity of power-driven sexual harassment remains inadequately addressed, as evidenced in a 2018 survey by the World Bank Group’s Women, Business, and Law.
“These distressing figures are not just numbers; they symbolize the experiences of numerous young women whose educational journey has been tarnished by the insidious specter of harassment.
“It is not an isolated issue, but rather a widespread problem that threatens the integrity of the education system and the well-being of students, particularly female students. We must tackle the root causes and implement robust measures to dismantle the culture of sexual harassment in higher institutions of learning.”
“Various initiatives have been launched by different stakeholders to combat this scourge of sexual harassment. Notably, the Federal Ministry of Education endorsed a model sexual harassment prohibition policy co-designed and validated by the Independent Corrupt Practices, Gender Mobile Initiative, and higher education institutions,” she added.
Ogunrotimi lamented that despite efforts by stakeholders to curb the menace, there remains a critical void, necessitating an immediate need for a legal framework to criminalize sexual harassment in higher education institutions.
“The Sexual Harassment Prohibition in Tertiary Education Institutions Bill offers a promising solution. This comprehensive legislation is crafted to address the nuances of sexual harassment, providing a clear definition of offences, establishing stringent penalties for perpetrators, and outlining mechanisms for the prevention and redress of sexual harassment,” she explained.
“Regrettably, despite the urgency of the matter, the Bill has lingered on the desk of the Nigerian President awaiting approval. This delay is disheartening and raises concerns about the commitment to eradicating sexual harassment within our educational institutions,” Ogunrotimi expressed.
“The President recently signed into law the Student Loan Bill, a commendable initiative aimed at facilitating students’ access to interest-free loans for education. However, the impact of this empowerment is diminished if the educational journey is marred by the trauma of sexual harassment.”
“Addressing sexual harassment in tertiary institutions is not just a moral imperative but a national emergency that demands swift and decisive action,” she added.
“The President’s action, or lack thereof, will send a powerful message about the nation’s values and its dedication to fostering an environment where every student, particularly female students, can thrive,” she concluded.
