Sexual Harassment: Women Networks Demand Arrest, Prosecution Of UNICAL Prof
Women networks on the aegis of ‘Women Voice and Leadership Project’ of ActionAid Nigeria, supported by Global Affairs Canada have taken a swipe at what they described as the “unwarranted intimidation and sexual harassment at the University of Calabar (UNICAL)”
This was as the Women Networks appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of national concern and interest, assent to the Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational institutions Bill passed by the 9th National Assembly.
The women groups particularly condemned the unscrupulous activities of the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University, Prof Cyril Ndifun, whom they alleged is at the centre of the unfortunate abusive and inappropriate conduct towards hapless female students for grades and meeting up with related school requirements.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Calabar, the Women Networks led by the President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Ladi Bala noted that the alleged sexual harassment by Prof Ndifun was the second so far reported against him, stressing that the action of Prof Cyril Ndifun was not only appalling, disgusting but, totally unacceptable.
The Network said that this was in spite of the fact that Prof Ndifun is not only a senior academic staff but one that has put in over 30 years of service as a lecturer.
Bala further said; “It is in the light of these anomalies that we not only call but, strongly demand for stringent measures against Prof Ndifun.
“While we commend the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Banki and the management team of the Institution for the swift action taken by suspending Prof Cyril Ndifun over the violations of the well laid rules and regulations of the institution, we however insist and demand for a full and comprehensive investigation into the condemnable matter as well as ensure proper prosecution of Prof Ndifun to serve as deterrent to others with similar behavioural pattern and or intention(s).
“Towards this end, we urge heads of educational institutions in the country to as a matter of public importance, burrow a leaf from the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL by creating a safe space for girls to voice out against sexual and gender based violence in schools.
“Such proactive measures will go a long way to create the environment such as the type that empowered the law students of UNICAL to stage a protest and opened up on the constant sexual harassment and abuse of their bodies by lecturers of the institution.
“The incidences of sexual and gender based violence is not only percular to UNICAL but, common in most campuses of tertiary institutions and have been going on unhindered due to lack of enabling laws,” she said.
Bala particularly said that the ugly trend if not urgently addressed, is capable of truncating the educational and self development of girls and women.
According to the Networks; “Taking into cognisance, the already high number of out of school girls, there is no need emphasising the fact that the country cannot afford to risk more girls quitting schools for fear of sexual harassment by some lecturers who are expected to societal role models but, unfortunately are unable to control their animalistic libidos”.
The Women Networks therefore recommended that educational institutions in Nigeria should develop sexual and gender harassment policy to safeguard the dignity of girls with a view to providing safe environment for learning.
“We wish to applaud the boldness and forthrightness of the female laws students of UNICAL for standing up and speaking against injustice. We therefore appeal to other students facing similar abuses and intimidation to speak up so that the educational system can be cleansed of bad elements.
“On our part as Women networks, we pledge to work assiduously towards the full implementation of women voice and leadership project of ActionAid Nigeria and also work with the gender department of UNICAL to provide the needed psycho social support to survivors of sexual harassment in the school.
“This way, we shall not only be sending a strong message to the world but give the victims hope for a better future,” Ladi Bala echoed the voice of the Women Networks.
