“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses”
President Mohammadu Buhari has ordered Nigerian universities to disengage randy lecturers with immediate effect.
His call is coming during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that kicked off on 25 November; the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which will end on 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Speaking at the 46th convocation ceremony of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife on Saturday, the President, who was represented by the Director of Academic Planning, National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Abiodun Saliu urged other higher institutions of learning in the country to emulate OAU in dealing with the challenge of sexual harassment between lecturers and female students.
According to Buhari, the future of promising young girls in higher institutions across could not be entrusted into the hands of sexually reckless individuals who were masquerading as lecturers.
Buhari commended the OAU management for the way it had tackled sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding those involved.
He further said that as part of efforts to resolve the incessant strikes in higher institutions of learning, the Federal Government had provided N470n in the 2023 budget, meant for revitalisation and salary enhancement.
“I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment.
“In fact, this university deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding whose ox is gored.
“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate OAU in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls.
“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses.”
On the 2023 general elections, the President appealed to Nigerians to elect credible representatives without undue recourse to ethnic sentiments or religious affiliation.
