VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update
THE Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students’ engagements, Comrade Sunday Asefon has hinted that strict punishments await perpetrators of gender based violence in the Nigeria campuses.
The President’s aide disclosed that the present administration was not unaware of the prevalence of the menace on the nation’s ivory towers but assured that punishments which shall include suspension, expulsion and prosecution of the culprits.
Comrade Asefon gave this assurance while receiving a delegation of Gender mobile initiative who called at his office in Abuja as part of the activities marking 16 days of Activism.
“It’s noteworthy that Gender-based violence has for a long time been a persistent issue in tertiary institutions across Nigeria and remains a distressing reality on colleges and university campuses with consequences stretching into stunted academic and personal growth, among other negatives.
“My office is not unmindful of the prevalence Of Gender-Based Violence against female undergraduates In Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria and the widespread allegations of sex-for-mark in some educational institutions in the Country and the fact that most students who are targeted hardly come forward with complaints.
“I want to assure you all that we are taking urgent steps in collaborating with stakeholders for a renewed fight against the scourge.
“Our Commitment is to ensure that punishments is meted to perpetrators of Gender based Violence against female undergraduates including suspension, expulsion and prosecution.
” I want to assure Nigerian Students today that our father, Mr. President will assent to the bill that seeks to criminalise the act of neglect or failure of administrative heads of tertiary educational institutions to address complaints of sexual harassment.
He used the ocassion to intimate his guests about the latest intervention of the President in the education sector.
” Recall that Our Father a compassionate leader and mentor signed the students loan bill into law, removed University from IPPS, stopped the deduction of 40 percent IGR from University.”
(Independent Newspaper)