Sack randy lecturers now, Buhari tells varsities

President Mohammadu Buhari has urged other higher institutions of learning in the country to emulate the manner Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has been dealing with the challenge of sexual harassment between lecturers and female students.

The president, who spoke in Ile-Ife on Saturday at the 46th convocation of the university, said the future of promising young girls in higher institutions of learning across the country could not be entrusted into the hands of sexually reckless individuals who were masquerading as lecturers.

SOLACEBASE reports that the president’s call is coming  exactly is the wake of  16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

Buhari, however, commended the OAU management for the way it had tackled sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding those involved.

Represented by the Director of Academic Planning, National Universities Commission, Dr. Abiodun Saliu, the President further said as part of efforts to resolve the incessant strikes in higher institutions of learning, the Federal Government had provided a total sum of N470m in the 2023 budget.

According to him, the funds were meant for revitalisation and salary enhancement, calling for support in funding tertiary education in the country.

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He said, “I will be failing in my duty as Visitor if I do not commend the Council and Management of this great citadel of learning for dealing, very decisively, with cases of sexual harassment.

“In fact, this university deserves commendation on the way and manner it is tackling sexual and other related harassments headlong without minding whose ox is gored.

“I want other institutions of higher learning to emulate OAU in summarily terminating the appointment or dismissing any lecturer who uses or is using his advantageous position to sexually harass our young, unassuming, innocent and impressionable girls.

“We cannot continue to entrust the lives of our promising young girls into the hands of some sexually reckless individuals who are masquerading as lecturers on our campuses.”

On the 2023 general elections, the President appealed to Nigerians to elect credible representatives without undue recourse to ethnic sentiments or religious affiliation.