By PAUL MICHAEL
Students have been urged to report cases of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
ICPC Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of Lagos, Mr Kabir Elelu, gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled ‘Sexual Exploitation in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions: A Manifestation of Corruption and the Role of ICPC’ at a sensitization session organized by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) for tertiary institutions in Lagos State.
Mr Elelu emphasized that to keep institutions safe as positive places for the young ones to learn, sexual exploitation must be confronted and stopped. He stressed the need to speak out and use appropriate channels to report in order to get redress.
He explained that existing partnerships with CSOs will continue to be mutually beneficial so that as the Commission receives the reports, it can investigate and prosecute where necessary.
He listed available channels for reporting to include the Commission’s website www.icpc.gov.ng, which has a reporting template, as well as on the Commission’s Sexual Harassment Unit toll-free lines – 0800-CALL-ICPC (0800-2255-4272).
He also charged the students to report to various CSOs and NGOs under the National Anti-Corruption Coalition (NACC) while urging public servants to report to Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs) in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs.)
While giving her welcome remarks, Director, CISLAC, Hajiya Hadiza Kangiwa, stated that one of the main objectives of the programme was to train students on how to use the TIMBY Application, a reporting channel where referral of complaints to anti-corruption agencies and other relevant authorities for investigation and sanction and to advocate for the passage of sexual harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Bill and strengthen compliance.’
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She encouraged the students to speak out, seek redress and psychological support, despite fear of stigmatization by the society. Other speakers at the program include Ndidiamaka Ani of SOAR Initiative who presented a paper on the importance of psychological support for victims of sexual harassment and for schools to have internal mechanism to handle issues of sextortion; and Modupe Asama of Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) who spoke on how victims can report sexual harassment cases, The Trumpet gathered.
The students suggested that the ICPC should systematically ensure that academic and non-academic staff of higher institutions of learning be sensitized on sexual exploitation.
The students resolved to report sexual exploitation to the right channels and to disseminate the information they have learnt to their colleagues.
