Minister of Education to Female Students: “Avoid Going to Lecturers to Prevent Harassment”

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, during the unveiling of a policy document against sexual harassment in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), advised female students against unnecessarily going to lecturers to avoid being sexually harassed. He also warned the female students to desist from harassing their lecturers and pointed out the need for female students to study hard in order to make good results on their own and to be able to defend their certificates.

The minister commended the management of the University for being the first to unveil a policy document against sexual harassment, adding that the sexual harassment policy launched by UNIPORT should be adopted by other tertiary institutions.

Also speaking at the meeting was the University of Port Harcourt VC, Prof. Ndowa Lale who lamented the high rate of sexual harassment witnessed in tertiary institutions. He said that Some victims of unwanted sexual advances, assault or rape are known to have dropped out of school to stay away from the maddening crowd. In extreme cases, some victims have even contemplated or actually committed suicide as a coping mechanism.