The Federal Ministry of Education has visited the Centre for Response and Prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, CRPSGBV, at Lagos State University, LASU to formulate national guidelines aimed at eliminating sexual harassment in tertiary institutions.
The visit took place on June 13, 2024, in the Senate Chamber of the Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate Building.
Mrs. Ezonebi Azorbo led the ministry team, emphasizing their commitment to creating comprehensive and effective guidelines to tackle the increasing cases of sexual harassment in higher education.
The Acting Director at CRPSGBV, Dr. Igot Ofem, who was represented by the Assistant Director for Rape Issues, Dr. Olawunmi Macaulay-Adeyelure, welcomed the ministry team. She expressed gratitude for selecting LASU as a key participant in this initiative and provided an overview of the Centre’s approach to handling Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, SGBV cases.
The University management’s strong support in combating SGBV on campus was underscored, highlighting efforts to ensure all staff, students, and stakeholders are aware of and adhere to strict anti-GBV regulations. Relevant SGBV documents were shared with the visiting team to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Centre’s work.
Assistant Director for Sexual Harassment at CRPSGBV, Dr. Oluremi Savage, discussed the Centre’s protocols for handling cases involving students and external parties, ensuring that all parties are referred to the appropriate channels for resolution.
During the visit, Mrs. U. A. Okafor, a member of the visiting team, distributed questionnaires to students and staff representatives to gather insights on how sexual harassment is being addressed on campus.
Key attendees included Dr. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, Dean of the Student Affairs Division; Dr. Nasir Ariyibi, Director of Health Services; Dr. Samad Lawal, Assistant Director for Gender-Based Violence at CRPSGBV; Oladiran Mercy Olubunmi, Student Union Vice-President; and other Faculty Mentors and CRPSGBV staff members. Their presence highlighted the University’s dedication to eradicating sexual harassment.
The visit by the Federal Ministry of Education to LASU’s CRPSGBV is a significant step toward developing national guidelines to eliminate sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, demonstrating LASU’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for its community.
