THE University of Benin, Edo State, has set up a committee to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against a professor in the school’s Department of Philosophy.
This was contained in a circular issued by the investigation committee’s Secretary, B. D. Jonathan, and made available to journalists on Saturday, August 10.
Although the professor’s name was not disclosed, the committee urged members of staff and students with relevant information or who had experienced any related incidents to come forward and share it.
It was gathered that the institution made the decision following a social media post by a female graduate who accused the lecturer of sexual harassment during her undergraduate studies.
The circular read, “The Vice-Chancellor has set up a committee to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment against a professor from the Department of Philosophy.
“The committee, to actualise its mandate, is requesting all staff and students with relevant information or who have experienced any incident related to the allegation to please come forward and share as it will assist the committee in ensuring a thorough and fair investigation.
“Be rest assured that your identity will be protected, and all information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.”
Several cases of sexual harassment have been reported in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
According to a 2018 survey conducted by the World Bank Group’s Women, 70 per cent of female graduates from tertiary institutions in the country were sexually harassed in school, with the main perpetrators being classmates and lecturers.
The ICIR reported that more lecturers were accused of sexual harassment by students at tertiary institutions in 2023 than any other year in the last five years showing an increase in the number of reported cases.
According to a survey by Oga Lecturer, at least 43 lecturers were accused or indicted for sexual harassment between 2018 and 2023.
Based on media reports tracked by Oga Lecturer, at least 15 lecturers were accused in 2023.
They include Cyril Ndifon, former Dean of Law Faculty at the University of Calabar, and Balogun Olaniran, a lecturer at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), who have been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for sexual harassment.
Although the Senate had, in 2021, passed a bill stipulating 21 years imprisonment for randy lecturers, however, most of the lecturers indicted and found guilty after the bill was passed were simply sacked.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.