The Enugu State government has intensified its efforts to eradicate the growing issue of sex-for-grades in its tertiary institutions.
Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the state government reaffirmed its commitment to bring all offenders to justice, regardless of their status or position.
This bold declaration was made during a one-day meeting organized by the Enugu State Ministry of Education, focused on adopting an anti-sexual harassment policy for the state’s institutions of higher learning.
At the heart of this initiative is Governor Peter Mbah’s determination to clean up the education system and protect students from exploitation.
During the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, made it clear that the state government will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment in schools.
He stated that the government has reached a point where they are fully prepared to take action against perpetrators.
“His Excellency is very determined about this,” Onyia said. “We are prepared to hold individuals accountable in this state.”
He emphasized that any academic or staff member found guilty of harassing students or soliciting sexual favors in exchange for grades will face swift prosecution.
“The moment we process information about such individuals, they will be prosecuted immediately,” he assured the audience.
Professor Onyia revealed that the state government plans to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to carry out sting operations across institutions.
Several operations have already been carried out successfully, he noted, sending a strong message that the state is serious about ending the scourge of sexual harassment in schools.
The meeting also highlighted the ongoing development of a model anti-sexual harassment policy in Enugu State.
Professor Ndubueze Mbah, the State Commissioner for Education, explained that the policy is the product of extensive research, peer review, and collaboration with stakeholders in the education sector.
“The policy document is the result of a comprehensive process involving research, assessment, and feedback from multiple partners,” Professor Mbah said.
The policy aims to create safe, harassment-free campuses across the state’s tertiary institutions.
Professor Mbah also noted that the initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Gender Mobile Initiative and the ICPC, both of which have played a key role in drafting the National Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy for schools.
“This initiative is part of His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to ethical leadership in Enugu State,” Mbah added.
He also disclosed that the policy will extend beyond tertiary institutions to cover secondary and basic schools in the state.
“We are starting with tertiary institutions, but the policy will eventually be implemented at all educational levels,” he said.
During the meeting, Dr. Ernest Ogezi, Learning Measurement and Evaluation Manager at the Gender Mobile Initiative, elaborated on how the anti-sexual harassment policy would be rolled out in different schools.
According to Ogezi, the policy will be tailored to the specific needs of each institution.
“We will collaborate with each school to understand their unique context and integrate the policy accordingly,” he said.
Ogezi explained that the first step would involve signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with each institution to implement the Campus Safety Initiative (CSI), a program aimed at promoting a safe and respectful academic environment.
The CSI will be built on four pillars, he said, though he did not go into detail about those pillars.
A Technical Working Group (TWG) will also be established to ensure that the policy is effectively implemented across all schools.
Ogezi added that the TWG will be trained by the ICPC to ensure that they are well-equipped to handle cases of sexual harassment and enforce the policy.
“We will also appoint campus ambassadors and organize town hall meetings with students and faculty to raise awareness about the policy,” he said.
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has expressed strong support for the Enugu State government’s efforts to tackle sexual harassment in schools.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner for Enugu and Ebonyi states, Kennedy Ebuhotemen, stressed that the ICPC will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment in the country’s educational institutions.
He added that the commission is committed to partnering with the Enugu State government to “sanitize” the state’s educational system and ensure that cases of sexual harassment are properly addressed.
“We are working to create a comprehensive policy that will not only guide victims on how to respond to harassment but also raise awareness about the issue across all institutions,” he said.
Ebuhotemen made it clear that the ICPC will prosecute offenders and hold those in positions of power accountable for their actions.
“Anyone who misuses their position to gain undue advantage or facilitate activities that harm society will be prosecuted within the bounds of the law,” he said.
Onyia did not hide his disappointment at the absence of some key stakeholders during the meeting.
He expressed frustration that some vice-chancellors from institutions across the state did not attend, despite the importance of the issue.
Onyia stressed that the fight against sexual harassment requires the active involvement of all educational leaders.
“This issue demands serious attention, and I urge every institution to collaborate with the state government in this fight,” Onyia said.
He emphasized that the anti-sexual harassment policy is not just about punishing offenders, but about creating a culture of respect and equality in the state’s schools.
“We want to create an environment where students feel safe and where academic integrity is upheld,” he said.
