By Stella Edoka
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, has called on students to speak up and report any form of sexual harassment within the institution.
Professor Akinwumi made the appeal during a workshop organized by the university’s Institute of Gender Studies at the Felele main campus.
He stressed that the university is committed to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for all students, warning that any lecturer or student found guilty of harassment would face strict sanctions, including dismissal or expulsion.
The Professor also noted that harassment of lecturers by students would not be tolerated.
Director of the Institute of Gender Studies, Professor Ofure Aito, explained that the workshop aimed to make the campus a safe space by raising awareness about sexual rights, identity, constitutional rights, and legal protections.
She disclosed that the university would soon launch a Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment policy ahead of the new academic calendar.
In her presentation, the Executive Director of Challenge Parenthood Initiative, Ms. Eunice Agbogun, urged both students and lecturers to play active roles in creating a respectful academic environment.
She encouraged students to support one another, speak out against harassment, and report incidents promptly, while advising lecturers to foster respect, empathy, and understanding in their interactions.
Deputy Director of the Institute, Dr. Aisha Abimbola Adaranijo, addressed the legal implications of sexual abuse, reminding participants that such offences carry severe consequences.
She assured students of government support and called for the university’s harassment framework to align with national standards.
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