Sex For Marks: OAU Dismisses Prof Akindele
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife at its sitting on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, approved the dismissal of Professor Richard I. Akindele for what it described as act of “gross misconduct”.
The dismissal of Akindele from the services of the University followed the consideration and approval of the recommendation of the Senate of the University as well as the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate on a reported case of sexual harassment and demand from his female student Miss Monica Osagie.
Professor Richard Akindele was found liable on all the allegations against him over inappropriate relationship with his student Miss Monica Osagie.
Akindele’s guilt was established through his conversation with Miss Osagie in the audio recording; his reply to the query issued him by the Vice Chancellor of the University; the oral evidence; and the printed ‘WhatsApp conversations’ tendered before the Committee.
The Committee which investigated Akindele, noted that he had acted in a manner that is seen to have compromised his position as a teacher and examiner, in that, his conversations with Miss Osagie were about examination scores and inducement of favour for the alteration of examination scores.
The committee further said; “He (Prof Akindele) offered to change Miss Osagie’s purported “33%” result to a pass mark in consideration for sexual favours, this was established in the audio recording which he admitted.
“His claim that Miss Osagie knew that she had passed with a score of ‘45’ but was seeking to score an ‘A’ and that this led to him being sexually harassed by Miss Osagie cannot be supported by any evidence.
“Professor Akindele’s actions in requesting for sexual favours from Miss Osagie to change her examination scores was a scandalous behaviour that has brought ridicule to the name of the University and has tarnished the reputation of the University, as it portrays the University as an institution where its teachers and examiners trade marks for sexual favours.
“From the evidence, Miss Osagie had no idea that she scored ‘45’, a pass mark as later claimed by Professor Akindele, although she later found out she did not fail the course.
“Professor Akindele’s claim that he reported Miss Osagie’s ‘harassment’ to his colleagues cannot be supported by any evidence as all his colleagues denied it and one mentioned that she only talked about the matter with him after the audio recording was released over the internet.
“Professor Akindele operated in a position of power and authority over Miss Osagie and as such sexually harassed her. Professor Akindele was liable for all the allegations of misconduct levelled against him,” the committee’s findings revealed.
Following the unfortunate development, the University has taken further steps to ensure the total elimination of Sexual Harassment (SH) in the OAU Community.
A statement to this effect by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede explained that the University has a legal duty to prevent sexual and gender-based harassment within the institution and ensure that both men and women are protected from the menace; and thereby provide conducive environment for teaching and learning.
To achieve this, Prof Ogunbodede said that the University is creating more awareness and disseminating information on what constitutes Sexual Harassment (SH) within the university, and noting the veracity of SH concepts which include – sexual solicitation and advances, sex exploitation, prostitution, seduction, pimping, sexual assault, unwanted touching, vulgar sexual jokes, rape among others.
He further said; “These concepts are well specified in the University Sexual Harassment Policy approved by the University Council in 2013;
“(b) has put in place a strategic implementation framework for the SH Policy which will ensure effective/rapid redress mechanisms to incidents of SH. The SH Policy clearly states mechanisms for reporting and for dealing with SH cases through the committee system. This would be made more functional;
“(c) will continuously educate staff and students about their right to seek redress in cases of SH;
“(d) has uploaded, on its website, the Sexual Harassment Policy, under the administrative blog, while copies are being given to students at matriculation, and when staff are newly recruited;
“(e) intends to add ‘Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment’ as part of its core values, and openly display this on bill boards.
“A whistle-blower policy is also being developed by the University.”
Prof Ogunbodede further said that OAU is fully committed to the eradication of sexual and other types of harassment from our tertiary institutions and will do all that is possible to nip this menace in the bud.
He said that OAU has zero tolerance for Sexual Harassment and as a renowned University will do everything humanly possible to maintain the rules and regulations of the University.
