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| (L-R) Mainoma, Osana, Angya |
Shun
sex-for-marks, NSUK VC warns lecturers
sex-for-marks, NSUK VC warns lecturers
By Dominic
Akpensuen
Akpensuen
Keffi
Vice chancellor of
Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed has
vowed to dismiss any lecturer caught harassing female students on campus.
Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed has
vowed to dismiss any lecturer caught harassing female students on campus.
The VC said this
while delivering a goodwill message at a seminar organised by the Centre for
Gender Studies of the university in Keffi.
while delivering a goodwill message at a seminar organised by the Centre for
Gender Studies of the university in Keffi.
Represented by
deputy vice chancellor (academics) of the institution, Professor Akinwumi
Olayemi, Mohammed said the laws of the
university were quite clear on the issue of sexual harassment.
deputy vice chancellor (academics) of the institution, Professor Akinwumi
Olayemi, Mohammed said the laws of the
university were quite clear on the issue of sexual harassment.
“The sanction for
any staff found culpable of the offence is instant dismissal from the
institution and the management would make sure the law is enforced to serve as
deterrent to others,” Mohammed said.
any staff found culpable of the offence is instant dismissal from the
institution and the management would make sure the law is enforced to serve as
deterrent to others,” Mohammed said.
The VC commended
the centre for organising the seminar and promised to support in championing
the cause of fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
the centre for organising the seminar and promised to support in championing
the cause of fighting Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
In her welcome
address, Hajiya Hauwa’u Mainoma, the Director of the Centre, called on the
federal government and other stakeholders to urgently take steps towards
addressing gender-based violence in the country.
address, Hajiya Hauwa’u Mainoma, the Director of the Centre, called on the
federal government and other stakeholders to urgently take steps towards
addressing gender-based violence in the country.
She explained that
the seminar was first of its kind by the centre since its inception in 2017.
the seminar was first of its kind by the centre since its inception in 2017.
She said the increasing rate of sexual and other forms
of violence in institutions informed the centre to put together the event aimed
at creating awareness on the menace.
of violence in institutions informed the centre to put together the event aimed
at creating awareness on the menace.
Mainoma called for
stiffer punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence, adding that it
will create equal opportunity for all to put their God-giving potential to good
use.
stiffer punishment for perpetrators of gender-based violence, adding that it
will create equal opportunity for all to put their God-giving potential to good
use.
In a presentation,
Professor Charity Angya, former vice chancellor, Benue State University,
Makurdi, said gender-based violence goes beyond mere physical attacks on
someone based on the person’s gender.
Professor Charity Angya, former vice chancellor, Benue State University,
Makurdi, said gender-based violence goes beyond mere physical attacks on
someone based on the person’s gender.
Angya observed
that both gender suffer violence in one point or the other in Nigeria, but that
more women are molested than men.
that both gender suffer violence in one point or the other in Nigeria, but that
more women are molested than men.
She explained that
gender-based violence exists more in work places and academic environment due
to high discrimination in careers and field of studies.
gender-based violence exists more in work places and academic environment due
to high discrimination in careers and field of studies.
“Education is a
right and government must abolish any custom or tradition militating against
girl-child education in the country.
right and government must abolish any custom or tradition militating against
girl-child education in the country.
“Such move will
naturally address the violence that women go through in the society,” she said
naturally address the violence that women go through in the society,” she said
The former VC
advised that men should massively take on careers and courses hitherto assumed
to be exclusively reserved for women and vice-versa, as a panacea to ending
gender-based violence in Nigeria.
advised that men should massively take on careers and courses hitherto assumed
to be exclusively reserved for women and vice-versa, as a panacea to ending
gender-based violence in Nigeria.
She
stressed that gender-based violence is a menace that has bedevilled the society
to the extent that it affects the survival of education in Nigeria, adding that
the guest speakers were carefully selected based on their contributions and
expertise.
stressed that gender-based violence is a menace that has bedevilled the society
to the extent that it affects the survival of education in Nigeria, adding that
the guest speakers were carefully selected based on their contributions and
expertise.
She
then expressed gratitude to the university management especially the VC for
providing a conducive atmosphere for the sustenance of academic activities. She
said measuring the academic performance of any higher institution of learning
is the quality of intellectuals in it,
then expressed gratitude to the university management especially the VC for
providing a conducive atmosphere for the sustenance of academic activities. She
said measuring the academic performance of any higher institution of learning
is the quality of intellectuals in it,
The seminar has as
its theme: ‘Gender Based Violence and the Survival of Education in Nigeria’.
its theme: ‘Gender Based Violence and the Survival of Education in Nigeria’.
L/R DG, Center for Gender Studies, NSUK, Dr.
Hauwa’u Mainoma; Dean, Students Affairs University of Abuja, Prof. Otaki Osana;
.former VC Benue State University, Prof. Charity Angya, and a guest speaker at
the seminar.
Hauwa’u Mainoma; Dean, Students Affairs University of Abuja, Prof. Otaki Osana;
.former VC Benue State University, Prof. Charity Angya, and a guest speaker at
the seminar.