The Acting Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi, has expressed worry over the emergence of various forms of sexual perversion in the society.
Arinze-Umobi was speaking at a programme titled “UNIZIK Declares War Against Sexual Harassment/Assault”.
Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Felicia Anyogu, the VC described sexual harassment as an unwanted behavior of a sexual nature from one person – the harasser, to another – the victim and the behavior being intimidating and offensive to the victim.
According to her, actions such as unwanted touching, suggestive comments, offensive jokes, and displaying sexual suggestive images, including the harasser’s physical body all constitute sexual harassment.
“Thus understood, and if we apply, many who may consider themselves innocent would be indicted.
“Traditionally, the stereotype of sexual harassment is that of a male harasser and a female victim.
“Today, the picture is disturbingly changing, with increasing cases of females harassing males, lesbian females harassing other females, and gay men harassing other men.
Birth of SHAC
The Acting Vice Chancellor recalled that increasing allegations of sexual harassment of female students by male lecturers and by male students were reported to the university management in 2023.
“The then-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Esimone, constituted a committee on sexual harassment headed by Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi, currently the acting Vice-Chancellor, but at the time a special assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Legal Matters, and immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration.
“The committee came up with a university policy document on sexual harassment which the management considered and adopted.
“Today, it is the working documents guiding the university in matters of sexual harassment while allegations of sexual harassment are expeditiously dealt with”.
The Vice Chancellor stated that the programme, tagged “UNIZIK declares war against sexual harassment” is not an indication of a resurgence.
“This should not suggest a resurgence of sexual harassment in the university, but rather a strengthening of our firm resolve to keep it up the university.
She called on lecturers, staff and students of the university to work in close collaboration with the committee to rid the university of sexual assault.
