The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on Nigerian universities to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres to combat sexual harassment within tertiary institutions.
She made the appeal on Monday during the National Summit on Addressing Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions, held in Abuja.
The summit was organised by Alliances for Africa in collaboration with the Committee of Gender Directors in Nigeria.
Addressing the attendees, Sulaiman-Ibrahim described sexual harassment in educational institutions as a widespread issue with far-reaching consequences. “Sexual harassment within educational institutions is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights, particularly against women and girls, whose effects transcend physical harm, leaving survivors with emotional, psychological, and socio-economic scars,” she stated.
The minister also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to addressing the menace and fostering safe learning environments for all students. She emphasised the urgent need for preventive mechanisms and institutional support structures like SARCs to ensure survivors receive justice and protection.
Ihuoma Obibi, the executive director of Alliances for Africa, underscored the lack of adequate response mechanisms within universities, which she said emboldens perpetrators. “The summit aims to establish a standard framework for institutions, ensuring that every student can thrive without fear, regardless of their gender,” Obibi explained.
The summit brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, academic representatives, and advocacy groups, to deliberate on strategies for addressing sexual harassment. Discussions focused on creating policies to safeguard students and fostering an academic environment free of abuse and intimidation.
By proposing SARCs, the government and civil society organisations aim to provide victims of sexual harassment with access to medical, psychological, and legal support. This measure seeks to dismantle the culture of impunity and ensure accountability within Nigeria’s higher education system.