The sexual harassment controversy that has previously rocked the University of Calabar and some other educational institutions has been met with anger from the Federal Government. Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, Minister of Education, has warned academics and the university community about sexual harassment issues, reiterating that the Federal Ministry of Education will deal ruthlessly with offenders of such crimes.
On Thursday, Mamman addressed the media in his office in Abuja after receiving the committee’s findings on allegations of sexual harassment against Professor Cyril Ndifon, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Calabar.
Ndifon, a professor and the dean of the school’s faculty of law, was suspended by the university on August 17 in response to complaints from female law students that he had harassed and assaulted them. However, Ndifon refuted the charges.The students of the faculty accused Ndifon of harassing and sexually assaulting them in a social media video that quickly went viral.
With signs reading “Ndifon must go for our sanity,” “We are tired of buying law journals,” “We are tired of lecturers not attending classes,” and “Law girls are not your bonanza; Prof. Ndifon should stop grabbing us and others,” the students were seen storming the office of the school’s vice chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi.
As a result of the events, the university established a panel to conduct an investigation into the charges, which included sexual harassment, a lack of accountability, and misuse of office. This investigation ultimately led to his suspension.
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Professor Tahir Mamman stated shortly after the report was given to him that sexual harassment is a serious criminal offence that needs to be dealt with swiftly whenever it occurs, adding that the Federal Ministry of Education will do everything in its power to stop the ugliness in our universities.Tahir stated that sexual harassment is an infraction that must be eradicated at all costs and that all hands must be on deck to address the threat it poses to our educational system.
The Federation of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ben Bem Goong, stated in a statement on Thursday that the Minister has consistently reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to safeguarding the most vulnerable populations within the nation’s educational system.
Mamman stated that nobody would be permitted to take advantage of the weaker groups while emphasising that he would use the full force of the law to make sure that offenders receive fair punishment.He said that in order to address the problem, sexual offences units would be created in the Ministry and all higher education institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, earlier informed the Minister during the presentation of her report that the university had followed all proper procedures in handling the case, including suspending the suspect, conducting the necessary inquiries, and establishing a disciplinary committee to hear from all parties.
The Public Complaint Commission, the Nigeria Bar Association, the Federation of Female Lawyers, the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission, the Student Union, the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as seven civil society organisations were added to the committee as observers, according to the Vice-Chancellor, in order to guarantee a very high level of transparency.