IF anyone had any doubt about the increasing problems in Nigerian universities, the sacking of eight lecturers of the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), Mkpat Enin, over alleged sexual offences and extortion must jolt them into the sad reality. Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Eno Ibanga, disclosed this last week during a press conference at the main campus of the institution. He also said that about 10 students of the university who were on their way to a cult initiation ceremony were also arrested.
This very worrisome sack is coming barely six weeks after the Director of Public Affairs of the Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna, Dr. Sma’ila Shehu, confirmed to newsmen that the university’s governing council had approved the sack of 16 members of staff, including lecturers from various departments and faculties over offences like sexual assault, negligence of duty and other acts of corruption. This equally came days after the world woke up to the scandalous BBC undercover report exposing alleged sexual impropriety of a lecturer, Dr. Boniface Igbeneghu of the University of Lagos.
Earlier in the year, Professor Iyiola Akindele of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, was convicted of sexual harassment. The list goes on and on. It is a known fact that the history of sexual harassment in Nigerian schools and the lack of genuine attempt to punish the offenders is a very old and perverse one that stands on the levity with which sexual assaults are handled in the larger society.
While we commend the actions of these universities that have decided to sack those who have erred, we want to believe that due diligence was applied in arriving at the sack. However, the scourge of sexual harassment in schools must be tackled very seriously because, while everyone knows it happens in all sectors, the university as an ivory tower must, as Caesar’s wife, be above suspicion.
If certificates are awarded to those who have been found worthy in ‘character and learning’, the custodians of that process must make sure that each certificate is awarded to the truly deserving as the holders are being somewhat initiated into the society to effect changes through productivity in all sectors. This must be done through acquired knowledge that is not tainted with sexual gratification or other material inducements.
We would advise the universities to set up panels that would be in a position to handle any harassment case without prejudice. We know that very often, because of the guilt-tripping of the males over sexual impropriety, it is easy to ignore the fact that some indolent female students often offer sex and/or other materials to some lecturers in exchange for marks. On the flip side too, male students are often sexually harassed by female lecturers and other demands for gratifications equally made too.
While we commend the actions of those universities that have shown a bit of diligence by investigating reported allegations and sacking those involved, we advise that universities must re-evaluate the recruitment processes to make sure they trace the history of those they engage. It might not be totally fool proof but we believe it would help to a level in weeding out individuals of less integrity in the system. In most cases, some of those who have a penchant for sexual impropriety have a history of such terrible behaviour that could be unearthed with little research.
The federal and state governments must begin to take statistics and documentation seriously so that when individuals are sacked for unethical behaviour, their records would pop up at the click of a button. In a world ruled by technology, sexual offenders should be recorded and tagged so that a sacked lecturer does not just relocate to another institution to continue his or her bad behaviour. Ekiti State government now has a functional sexual offenders register.
While no society is made up of saints, it is worrisome that a single university would sack as many as eight or 16 staff at once. We are worried at the lacuna their sack would create in the system. Experience is one valuable thing in the teaching profession, and to be losing those who otherwise could be useful given their experience in institutions must worry us all.
We also wish that other sectors would take a cue from these universities. Sexual impropriety is not a university creation; it is a challenge in every sector and is not gender-specific. The society must be self-sanitising through diligent implementation of laws as deterrent.
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