Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) has stated that the institution has fired two academic staff members over charges of sexual misconduct.
On Monday, the don also informed reporters that UNIABUJA has created a communication channel for students to report incidences of sexual harassment and other unethical behavior by instructors.
Speaking on school’s journey in the fight against sexual harassment, the VC said, “We expelled two members of the academic community. We collaborated with NGOs, most of whom pursue sexual harassment matters.
“Recently, there was a major conference on campus where students came out to expose some of the things that have been happening on campus.
“Right now, as I speak to you, every University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) student can report or comment on a lecturer via their student portal. Every student has this. They can comment on whether a lecturer is doing well in class and whether he attends class, so it’s not only sexual harassment alone.”
The VC further stated that the varsity council has approved that students be able to evaluate their lecturers.
Sexual harassment has been a reoccurring issue in Nigerian universities, with a 2018 poll performed by the World Bank Group’s Women indicating that 70% of female graduates from Nigerian higher institutions were sexually harassed in school.
The major perpetrators, according to the research, are classmates and Lecturers.
Despite the Senate passing a bill in 2021 requiring randy lecturers to serve 21 years in prison, the majority of the lecturers indicted and found guilty after the bill was approved were merely fired.
