The Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede has concluded plans to make the institution “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment and other social vices.
The Vice Chancellor dropped the hint at the Oduduwa hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University,(OAU), Ile-ife during the launching of Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy of the university.
According to him, “the institution will continue to demonstrate and strengthen its resolve on “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment and other social vices and to make it a reality, he senate of the institution has approved the revised Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy since April 2020 which could not come up until now as a result of COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Vice Chancellor also affirmed that, while no society is completely devoid of deviants and those who would not conform to accepted norms, OAU will continue to demonstrate and strengthen its resolve on zero tolerance for sexual harassment and other social vices.
He reiterated that, the University find the policy imperative as part of efforts to create a safe learning environment for all and promised to make it workable in the institution.
According to him, “while no society is completely devoid of deviants and those who would not conform to accepted norms, the management of the school would do its best to phase out sexual harassment.”
Also speaking at te event, wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has appealed to management of tertiary institutions in Nigeria to embrace anti-sexual harassment policy to reduce the spate of the menace in the society.
Erelu Fayemi who made the appeal at Oduduwa hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University,(OAU), Ile-ife during the launching of Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy of the university.
According to her, “where there are policies in place to prevent and deal with sexual harassment, they should be implemented to the fullest extent possible.”
Ekiti first lady added that, “this policy should be shared with other tertiary institutions around the country as others work towards establishing models of good practice.”
“Every tertiary institution needs a policy on sexual harassment and a zero-tolerance culture, maintaining that leadership of tertiary institutions must demonstrate that they are serious about the issue and will not condone a culture of abuse, silence and impunity”.
“Gender mainstreaming teaching and learning needs to be strengthened here at OAU. We also need data and analysis of SGBV/SH trends on an ongoing basis.”
“The Center for Gender and Social Policy Studies should therefore strive to be a center for excellence in the study and teaching of GBV and power relations in an evolving world_” she concluded.
Also, the Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola implored tertiary institutions of learning in the country to be involved in the campaign against Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
She said the involvement will underscore true and factual learning in addition to character building in students.
The Osun First Lady observed that the challenges of gender inequity has been with the Society for ages and draped with all forms of practices that perpetuate and sustain gender inequity.
She explained that the practices tend to foster in boys the unsubstantiated idea that being male confers superiority over the girls and many men grow up with this idea which get infused into the society.
Mrs Oyetola noted that Osun State Government has stepped up its legal framework for the elimination of all forms of sexual harassments and all forms of gender-based violence.
The President, IleriIOluwa Development Initiative, however, appealed to the citizenry to take actions today that would affect the society of tomorrow positively.
Speaking on the topic: Delivering on our mandate; confronting SGBVA, ensuring safe spaces in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, the guest speaker, Prof. Oluyemisi Obilade stated that sexual harassment is an unwanted and unsolicited sexual attention from someone usually in a position of power towards another especially women irrespective of age, race or culture.
Professor Obilade,the guest speaker at the Occasion , an outstanding educationist and the immediate past Vice chancellor of the Tai Solarin University, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade in her lecture titled “Delivering on Our Mandate: Confronting SGBVA, Ensuring Safe Spaces in Nigeria,” Prof Oluyemisi Obilade, described the act as inhuman, criminal and anti- human and called for its eradication in any given society.
She maintained that, Gender-Based Violation is a violation of women’s human right and called for mass sensitisation and education of male and female students, staffs and stakeholders in the issue to be able to get it phased out in the society.
Professor Obilade however called on the management of the institution to strengthen the capacity of relevant unit like student affairs and warned female students to stand on their no, whenever there is attempt to harass them sexually.
Also, the Chairperson of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Implementation Committee, Prof. Moji Olateju in her welcome address said the sexual harassment of 2017 gave the institution the need to put up a policy to curb the menace in the university community.
There were goodwill messages by other eminent guests and professional and non professional bodies at the occasion which centred on the need to wage a total war against sexual harassments of any kind not only in the university communities but the larger Society in Nigeria.
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