The Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, has disclosed that it recently dismissed two academic staff members over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Na’Allah told The PUNCH on Monday that the institution had introduced a communication channel for students to report cases of sexual harassment and other unethical acts by lecturers.
It was gathered that the issue of sexual harassment is rampart in Nigerian institutions with a survey conducted in 2018 by the World Bank Group’s Women revealing that 70 per cent of female graduates from tertiary institutions in Nigeria were sexually harassed in school.
The report added that the main perpetrators are classmates and lecturers.
Though the Senate had in 2021 passed a bill that randy lecturers should be subject to 21 years imprisonment, The PUNCH reported that most of the lecturers indicted and found guilty after the bill was passed were simply sacked.
In 2022, reports also revealed that UNIABUJA, Obafemi Awolowo University and some other institutions dismissed at least four professors and 14 academics of various cadres on allegations bordering sexual misconduct.
Speaking on UNIABUJA’s journey so far 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 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, does he attend class, so it’s not only sexual harassment alone.”
The University don further said that the varsity council also recently approved that students could assess their lecturers.
