Kogi Govt. axes dozens of lecturers over sexual harassment allegation

The Kogi State Government has again reaffirmed its dedication to fighting sexual harassment to a halt as it announced the dismissal of several lecturers from the Kogi State Polytechnic.

This was announced by Isah Emmanuel Ojodunwene, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Students Affairs, during a meeting on adopting anti-sexual harassment policies in tertiary institutions held in the state capital, Lokoja.

He assured the state government of zero tolerance for sexual harassment in the state as some lecturers are currently cooling off in prison over their uncultured behaviour.

The SA Students Affairs charged all heads of institutions in Kogi State to be tough on sexual harassment.

“No time can be better, earlier or later than now when we talk about sexual harassment. Recently, we had an issue where a 19-year-old was murdered by one 20 years 20-year-old Boy at the Federal University Lokoja for a ritual. What we are saying is that the child was vulnerable and was harassed in that situation.

” It is better we talk about it now before it is too late. If you check, all the institutions that we have in Kogi State, there are incidents where students have reported cases of sexual harassment by their lecturers.

“Kogi State Polytechnic, for instance, some lecturers have been sacked, while others are cooling off in prison as we speak over the issue of sexual harassment of our innocent Students. We encourage all heads of institutions in Kogi State to be tough on this issue.

“His Excellency, Ahmed Usman Ododo is a no-nonsense leader when it comes to social vices, criminalities and other activities that are not in tandem with the progress of the State”

He called on students to always speak up, adding that, “Once you speak up, we will be able to identify their challenges and address them immediately. There is no stigmatization of sexual harassment. Even though you are married on campus and you are a victim of sexual harassment, you should support your husband so that we can track the areas that we need to punish the person and take them out of the institution.

“Even though you are a lecturer, no matter how highly placed you are, once you harass any of our students and we have the evidence and witnesses against them, the person will face the law squarely.”