The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Charles Esimone, has taken swift action by removing Mr Afam Ezeaku, a lecturer in the faculty of Law, following allegations of sexual harassment. This move comes as part of an ongoing investigation into the matter.
Providing a press release to journalists on Friday, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, the Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor on Public Relations and Special Duties, clarified that there were no protests carried out by the students regarding sexual harassment in the institution.
Media reports previously claimed that protesters had accused the Vice Chancellor of not acting on a report by a panel led by Prof Obi Oguejiofor, which had indicted Ezeaku.
Ojukwu stated, “It is important to state that there was no protest of any sort in the university. However, there is an ongoing investigation concerning alleged sexual harassment by some lecturers. The Vice Chancellor immediately removed the affected lecturers from their official positions and issued strong warning letters to them.”
He further explained that the challenge faced by the university is that the students who made the allegations of sexual harassment have not come forward to testify before the investigation panel.
In response to these developments, the Vice Chancellor summoned the affected departments to a meeting where he expressed the university’s displeasure and warned the lecturers and staff to abstain from any actions that would tarnish the institution’s reputation.
Ojukwu shared, “The university management will take severe disciplinary actions against those found guilty, particularly individuals who are molesting or sexually harassing students.”
Furthermore, the Vice Chancellor has made a dedicated telephone number available for students to report any form of harassment by staff, particularly cases of sexual harassment.
Ojukwu concluded, “He further assured students of the renewed determination of the university to protect them and handle all allegations of sexual harassment with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality.”
