Tackling Menace of Gender-based Discrimination, Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The menace has led a feminist organisation, Alliance for Africa (AFA), to engage some universities across the country in campaigns and sensitisation aimed at tackling the menace. Blessing Ibunge writes that the group had an advocacy visit to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Incessant discrimination and sexual harassment of undergraduates in the tertiary institutions, has created so much concern, which has also led to students, parents and concerned groups seeking solution to an end to the menace.
Although some organisations have tried to ensure that such acts are not heard any longer in the institutions of higher learning, but Alliance for Africa, in recent years has taken the lead to tackle the menace and bring back sanity to the learning facilities in the country.
AFA did not only end their advocacy at organising programmes, they moved forward to encourage the establishment of Center for Gender Studies in the institutions, presently working with centres across 12 universities, hoping to achieve success in addressing gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment in the institutions.
On this premise, AFA recently, paid an advocacy visit to the Vice Chancellor and key management staff of University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) whose engagement coincided with the 2nd international conference on gender, environment and development, organised by the institution Center for Gender, Conflict and Development Studies of the university.
The Programme Director of AFA, Blessing Duru who led the team on the visit, said the organisation’s efforts focus on systemic change, foundational education, creating inclusive environments, and advocating for policies that protect against victimisation. She noted the urgent need to strengthen policies, support systems, and enforcement mechanisms at the University, to create a safe and supportive academic environment.
The AFA team was received by Prof Heoma Nsirim-Worlu, Director, Centre for Gender, Conflict and Development Studies (CGCDS), Uniport, who revealed that the institution have been in partnership with the organisation in strengthening a conducive learning environment.
Presenting a paper to the institution through their centre, Duru explained that sexual harassment affects both students and staff, stressing that severely it disrupt academic and administrative functions.
Analysing a recent campus climate surveys the group conducted with various stakeholders, Duru explained that some of the challenges that has hindered success in the fight against sexual harassment include culture of silence and victim blaming, lack of robust data, inadequate reporting and accountability mechanisms, weak enforcement of existing policies and lack of awareness of existing policies or resources available for victims, to gain justice on the act committed against them.
According to AFA Programme Manager, “Most institutions lack sexual harassment and gender policies, and where it exists, they often lack strong enforcement mechanisms, resulting in a gap between policy and practice”, adding that “sexual harassment thrives because institutional cultures tolerate and enable it. Breaking down these enabling structures will significantly reduce its prevalence”.
On inadequate reporting and accountability mechanisms, she stated that “Many institutions lack clear reporting channels, referral pathways, and protections for victims. At University of Port Harcourt, there is a need to establish these mechanisms clearly, ensuring swift, transparent investigations with serious consequences for perpetrators”.
She noted the need for gender studies integration, saying “While gender and inclusion courses exist in some universities, there is no concerted effort to integrate gender and inclusion studies into the General Studies (GST) Curriculum”.
In the presentation, Duru disclosed that AFA is proposing the endorsement of the vice chancellor and the university management team for the approval of the Gender and Inclusion Curriculum as a General Studies Course for first-year university students across Nigeria.
This curriculum she said “is the result of extensive consultations with the directors of the Centers for Gender Studies and other key educational stakeholders, reflecting a comprehensive and collaborative approach.
” We seek the approval of the comprehensive sexual harassment and gender policy that has been developed by the Centres for Gender Studies, with support from Alliances for Africa. We recommend that this policy be integrated into school orientation programs and adopted into the university associations’ by-laws to institutionalise its application.
Additionally, the university should promote transparency in reporting sexual harassment cases. A culture of openness, supported by clear reporting pathways and accountability measures, should be prioritised for both staff and students”, adding that each time a perpetrator goes unpunished, more survivors suffer re-victimisation, perpetuating the cycle of harm.
Duru, however, mentioned some of the recommendations of AFA to include, holding policy advocacy meetings with key campus stakeholders, (Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Student Union Government, Departmental Student Associations, and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU)), saying that “These meetings should focus on incorporating the sexual harassment policy and gender policy into their respective association by-laws, ensuring widespread adoption and adherence across all levels of university governance”.
To ensure the effectiveness of the Center for Gender Studies, Duru added that the university should create dedicated budget lines to support its functionality. “This should include funding for victim support services such as counselling, medical aid, and academic accommodations, ensuring victims have access to resources without fear or stigma”.
Speaking with THISDAY during the advocacy visit, Director, CGCDS, Prof Nsirim-Worlu said the Center have the mandate of the university, to research and do whatever it can to produce an evidence to every reported issue as it affects gender, conflict, environment and development.
She explained that stigmatisation and cultural system has made some acclaimed suspects not to come forward to prove their claims on sexual harassment, explaining that both male and female are affected by the menace.
“People mistake the concept ‘Gender’ as women affairs, but is about the biological two (male and female) groups, and because of that misconception there is always conflict. When we try to pass the massage, we resolve the conflict and bring transformation in the living standard of the people.
“The harmonious existence of the two group will bring development for the good of humanity. We have been part of the process with Alliance for Africa since they started. We have done enlightenment campaigns to pass the massage and it has been effectively impacted.
“We as educational centre, have the mandate of the university, to research and whatever we do is evidence based, because it’s a product of our research. So, when we discovered that this gender concept is causing alot of problem, we adopted that word and then do advocacy through our enlightenment campaign”.
Speaking further on the Centre relationship with the group, Prof Nsirim-Worlu said “We have paid advocacy visit to the management, whatever AFA has put in place, they do it with institutions and I want to tell you that Uniport is one of the institutions chosen in Nigeria and have been carrying the flag very high.
“Presently, we don’t have any reported sexual or gender abuse issue. We had one that we would have had a very good grip, but the family came in and said the girl was possessed and those are the challenges we have in such sensitive issues.
“We were called, and we stepped in, got in the health component, by the time we came the girl has disappeared. The reporting is very important. No supportive evidence, we had an information we are following, but the family knowing the secrecy around the claim pulled back and we felt disappointed”.
Nsirim-Worlu added that “AFA is really doing well, not too many people as far as our country is concern talks about sex or sexual or anything related to it. Like I had said, sexual and gender based violence is an issue that is shrouded with alot of secrecy. They are trying to encourage people to speak and the moment there is voice, assistance will come. So AFA is speaking out on behalf of the voiceless”.
Alliances for Africa is currently working with the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam (COOU), Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) Nasarawa State University, Kebbi (NSUK), Kaduna State University (KASU), University of Jos (UNIJOS), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Lagos State University (LASU) and University of Ibadan (UI) to address sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.
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We seek the approval of the comprehensive sexual harassment and gender policy that has been developed by the Centres for Gender Studies, with support from Alliances for Africa. We recommend that this policy be integrated into school orientation programs and adopted into the university associations’ by-laws to institutionalise its application
