EditorialTHEWILL Editorial: Sexual Harassment In Nigerian Schools

THEWILL Editorial: Sexual Harassment In Nigerian Schools

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BEVERLY HILLS, May 06, (THEWILL) – Sexual harassment in Nigeria’s secondary and tertiary institutions has been an aged long phenomenon.

This problem appears to have gained so much momentum in tertiary institutions that stakeholders are concerned about its devastating implications on the education of our future leaders.

From whatever angle it is viewed, this social nuisance has reached a level where it must be frontally tackled to sanitise our learning environment. It is shameful that institutions that are meant to prepare students for future leadership have been turned to citadels where lecturers demand sexual gratification from students in exchange for marks.

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THEWILL is concerned about the consequences of having graduates who slept their way through schools in our societies. Of equal worry is how lecturers who are involved in sex-for marks could be useful in addressing the moral bankruptcy and leadership deficiencies in the larger society.

Experts have warned that sexual harassment could have some health implications on the psyche of the victims than bullying. A study had further disclosed that female victims of sexual harassment are prone to poor mental and physical health, lower self-esteem, as well as stressful traumatic symptoms that affect thoughts and feelings.

It is in this context that it has become imperative that government, authorities of these institutions and indeed, all Nigerians rise up in support of the fight against sexual harassment. This is critical to making students learn in an atmosphere that is devoid of any form of intimidation.

It is against this background that THEWILL commends the intervention by the Senate, through the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Bill.

We see the proposal, which recommended a five-year jail term or a fine of N5million for offenders, as strong enough to deter randy lecturers from soliciting, as well as a clarion call on lazy students to sit up.

But, THEWILL urges that the bill, whose sponsor is Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, embraces some portions of a similar law in the United States of America. According to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, sexual harassment in that country is an offence, even when the student and educator mutually consent to have sex, as long as it would unduly favour the parties involved.

The Senate must ensure that the bill progresses to become law, to avoid being dumped like some popular bills before it.

Beyond institutions setting up panels to try reported cases of immorality, the National University Commission, NUC, regulators of other tertiary institutions, parents and civil society organizations must rise up in support of this campaign.

THEWILL condemn the prevalence of this unholy practice, which has reached a level where lecturers use some close male students, in the name of course representatives, to also navigate their ways into students for the purpose of financial extortion or sexual gratification.

In canvassing equity on both sides, lecturers must also be protected from indolent students, who may choose to use it as a weapon to blackmail strict educators.

THEWILL commends the management of Obafemi Awolowo University and the Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, for setting the ball rolling in the way they gave attention to recent cases of lecturers who were accused of asking their victims for sex in return for marks.

The management of other institutions must adopt similar measures to create a conducive atmosphere for students to be trained on merit in the overall interest of the society.

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