The Vice-Chancellor and students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), have committed to tackling the scourge of sexual harassment on campus, vowing to foster a safer academic environment. This pledge was made during a one-day sensitisation campaign organised by the feminist non-governmental organisation, Alliances for Africa, in collaboration with FUTO’s Institute of Women, Gender and Development Studies (IWOGDS).
At the event, held on the university campus, FUTO’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nnenna Otti, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Emmanuel Esenwah, underscored the university’s zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct. Prof. Otti identified indecent dressing, laxity towards studies, and moral decay as key factors contributing to the problem within the institution.
“FUTO maintains zero tolerance for all forms of indecent behaviour,” Esenwah reiterated, assuring attendees that more stringent measures would be implemented to curb incidents of sexual harassment and related offences at the university.
In a show of solidarity, IWOGDS Director Prof. Edna Matthew-Njoku and Students’ Union President Comrade Stanley Nwosu pledged their continued efforts to raise awareness among the student body. They encouraged students to report any cases of harassment, promising that those who come forward would receive adequate protection and see justice served.
AfA Programme Director, Ms Blessing Duru, also addressed the gathering, stressing that sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, including FUTO. Duru warned that unchecked harassment would not only hinder students’ academic progress but also stall the professional growth of staff.
She called on FUTO’s leadership to intensify efforts to strengthen policies and establish robust support systems to protect the university community. “The creation of a safe and conducive academic environment is essential for the well-being of all,” she urged.
The sensitisation campaign drew over 1,000 participants, including university staff and students, reflecting a growing consensus on the need for urgent action to tackle sexual harassment at FUTO.