Minister Restates FG’s Commitment to Combat Sexual Harassment in Schools

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to combat sexual harassment in educational institutions.

The minister gave the assurance yesterday  in Abuja while speaking at the National Summit on Addressing Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria organised by Alliances for Africa (AfA) in collaboration with the Committee of Gender Directors in Nigeria.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim described sexual harassment within educational institutions as “a global menace and one of the most pervasive violations of human rights, particularly against women and girls, which effects transcend physical harm, leaving survivors with emotional, psychological, and socio-economic scars. She, however, called on universities in Nigeria to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to professionally address cases of sexual harassment.

The Executive Director of AFA, Ihuoma Obibi, emphasised that the lack of an adequate response has allowed perpetrators to act with impunity.

She noted that the summit aims to establish a standard framework for institutions, ensuring that every student can thrive without fear, regardless of their gender.