Khadijah Aliyu
A non-governmental organization, Alliances for Africa AFA, has Pledged to provide a technically advanced reporting mechanism to support tertiary institutions in the fight against sexual harassment.
The programs director of Alliances for Africa, Mrs Blessing Duru, made the indication during a sensitization workshop on sexual harassment and the unveiling of a confidential centre at the Centre for gender studies CGS Bayero University Kano BUK.
Sexual harassment is prevalent in Nigerian tertiary institutions, with immediate and long-term effects on the victims and survivors, students, staff and the institution at large.
In most universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and many other tertiary outfits sexual harassment has gained so much momentum, silent fame and normalcy.
It is based on these consequences that Alliances for Africa AfA executed a three-year pilot scheme on the prevention of sexual harassment in 12 universities across the six-geo political zones in collaboration with the universities’ Centers for Gender Studies.
Bayero University Kano BUK is one of the benefitting institutions where a sexual harassment policy and confidential center was launched to serve as a safe haven for students.
Mrs Blessing Duru pointed out that, addressing sexual harassment requires collaborative efforts involving school systems and students through a conducive learning and safe environment.
The programs manager noted that, BUK stands out as a one stop shop and one of the schools that has taken conscious efforts to put in place mechanisms where issues surrounding sexual harassment shouldn’t happen, counselling and providing social support to students.
“We realized that they have put in place robust mechanisms, they have sexual harassment policy, gender policy and students hand book, these three hand books with the school system are very critical in promoting safe learning environment it also promotes trust”
She urged BUK to show case the module they have as many schools do not have it and are clueless about what should constitute a good center for women and girls.
The vice chancellor Bayero University Kano BUK Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, represented by the university librarian Dr. kabiru Dahiru Abbas highlighted that BUK has zero tolerance for sexual harassment whether involving students, staff or third party, saying that all cases are dealt seriously and treated with high level of professionalism.
He noted that, BUK has been at the forefront of taking institutional measures in addressing the pertinent issue and has demonstrated leadership by being one of the first universities in Nigeria to adopt the sexual harassment policy SHP and gender policy GP.
The director Center for gender studies Bayero University Kano Ambassador Dr. Safiya Nuhu and the chairperson BUK sexual harrasment committee Professor Aisha Isma’il highlighted that the policy was adopted after consultation with relevant members of the university community.
They hinted that, the sexaul harassment module has received the necessary support from the university management to achieve the desired objectives.
Some of the students who spoke to Radio Nigeria Saada Nurudeen, Binta Sulaiman and Na’ima Abubakar described the sensitization by Alliances for Africa and center for gender studies as apt.
They hinted that the confidential corner established by the center for gender studies BUK will go a long way in eradicating the menace.
Alliances for Africa calls for systemic reforms in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and Africa through establishment of confidential and anonymous reporting mechanisms for students and staff to report incidents of harassment, abuse, or power imbalances and ensure that individuals who report are protected from retaliation.