By Ikenna Nwokedi
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka and stakeholders in the education, health and public sector have declared war on the menace of sexual harassment and assault among students and youths in tertiary institutions and other spheres of human endeavour.
The institution gave the assurance during a town and gown interaction at the one-day symposium organized by the University’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Committee (SHAC) held at the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES) on Thursday, 17th July 2025.
In her opening remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad stated that the Federal Government is commited to mainstreaming gender-sensitive frameworks across the education sector in line with the Renewed Hope agenda.
Prof. Ahmad who was represented by the Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Prof. Theresa Okoli said the ministry was working with Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Universities Commission (NUC) and other institutions to ensure sexual harassment policies were not only enacted but enforced.
Prof. Ahmad said, “The theme of today’s symposium is not only timely but reflects the deep yearning across our educational institution and indeed our nation for safe respectful and inclusive learning environments.
“Sexual harassment in schools and higher institutions is a gross violation of human dignity. It undermines academic integrity, destroys trust and erodes the confidence of students, particularly young women, who come to these institutions in search of knowledge and a better future. It is therefore heartening to see that UNIZIK is not merely issuing a statement of intent but is mobilizing leadership, stakeholders and institutional workers to confront and eliminate this scourge,” Prof. Ahmad stated.
Declaring the event open, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi stated that the growing cases of sexual harassment is alarming and all stakeholders must join hands together to fight the menace which is eating deep into the fabrics of the society.
The Acting VC who was represented by the Dean of Faculty of Law, UNIZIK, Prof. Felicia Anyogu averred that the SHAC was created to investigate, treat and tackle head on issues about sexual harassment of any form in the institution for both students and staff. The acting VC assured that the institution has zero tolerance on any form of sexual harassment as perpetrators will be made to face the full weight of the law.
In her keynote speech, the Honourable Commissioner for Education in Anambra State, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh described sexual harassment as a cancer worm destroying the society as well as a two-edged sword piercing both genders. Prof. Chuma-Udeh warned the girl-child against subjecting themselves to actions capable of exposing them to harassment.
The Education Commissioner informed that the society continues to breed in the ugly menace of sexual harassment and assault because necessary actions have not been taken by all stakeholders in fighting the scourge to a stand still.
Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare in the state, Hon. Ify Obinabo stated that the one-symposium is apt as it serves as the motivation to anyone who has been molested sexually in the past to speak up and act as ambassadors who will go to war against the menace. Hon. Obinabo who was represented by Mrs Blessing Nweke affirmed the the Ministry is ready to partner with the SHAC in total eradication of sexual harassment and assault.
On her part, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Prof. Sylvia Ifemeje stated that sexual offense is a crime punishable under the laws of the land. Prof. Ifemeje who was represented by Barr. Ngozi Iweomu disclosed that sexual harassment is not only witnessed by children and the youths but adults as well. The legal luminary informed that there is a referral centre in the state for victims located at Enugwu-Ukwu Community while there is also a special court that handles cases about sexual offenders.
Chairperson, Sexual Harassment/Assault Committee, Dr. Nneka Umejiaku described the symposium as a veritable platform to break culture of silence promoting sexual harassment in academic environment. The scholar disclosed that the symposium is aimed at empowering students with requisite knowledge on their rights to conducive academic environment, free from every form of sexual harassment and assault.
The President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Samuel Eze restated that the war against sexual harassment was still on course in the institution, warning culprits of sexual harassment to turn a new leaf or face the consequences. Comrade Eze who was represented by the SUG Vice-President, Favour Chidi pledged the support of the student’s government to the committee to enable it succeed in its mandate.
In their goodwill messages, Prof. Izuchukwu Obiadi of the Department of Geophysics, pressed that the message of speaking up against the act should be encouraged not just in the ivory towers but the society at large. Re-echoing the views of Prof. Obiadi, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Amara Muojeke charged the victims of sexual assault to endeavour to speak up as this will serve as the catalyst in stemming the tide of the ugly menace.
The event also featured award presentations to the Honourable Minister of State for Education, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor and the Anambra State Commission for Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
