President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the managements of various universities in the country to sack lecturers found guilty of sexually harassing female students.
Buhari gave the directive, citing example with the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, which has adopted the no-nonsense posture.
The Visitor to the University, while speaking at the 46th convocation ceremony of the institution at it campus in Ile-Ife, said lives of female students cannot be entrusted in the hands of randy lecturers across campuses in Nigeria.
Represented by the Director of Education Planning at the National Universities Commission, Dr Noel Saliu, the President also said the government will not sign any agreement it cannot fulfill with school unions.
“I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment. In fact, this University deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong, without minding whose ox is gored.
“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate O.A.U in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls. We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses,” he said.
The President added that government alone cannot adequately fund education, hence it is imperative to introduce sustainable model of funding education in the country.
He said: “I want all of us to know and note that Government alone cannot provide the resources required for funding tertiary education. In fact, in most countries, the cost of education is jointly shared between the government and the people, especially at the tertiary level. It is imperative, therefore, that we introduce a highly sustainable model of funding tertiary education.
“This government remains committed to the implementation of agreement reached with staff unions within the available resources, and we are resolute that we will not sign any agreement that we cannot truthfully implement”.
In his address the University Chancellor, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, urged parents to continue to invest in the future of their children by ensuring that they enjoy quality education.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Simeone Bamire, said as part of the university advancement, it has been selected among beneficiary of the special ICT broadband infrastructure projects of the Federal government, which will further position the institution as a leading ICT-driven institution.
Among the dignitaries that attended the convocation are the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Abolarin Aroyinkeye, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand.