Sexual Harassment in UNIZIK: Indicted Lecturers Removed from Positions -VC

The authorities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have officially removed lecturers indicted of sexual harassment from their various official positions at the institution.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Friday by Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Adviser on Public Relations and Special Duties to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Charles Esimone.

Although in the statement, Ojukwu did not mention the names of the indicted officials, he said there was an on-going investigation concerning alleged sexual harassment by some lecturers, while insisting that there was no protest at the institution.

The statement read, “It is important to state that there was no protest of any sort in the university.

“However, there is an on-going investigation concerning alleged sexual harassment by some lecturers.

“The Vice-Chancellor immediately removed the affected lecturers from their official positions and issued those affected strong warning letters in the affected departments.

“Unfortunately, the students who alleged sexual harassment were not forthcoming to testify before the investigation panel.

“However, the Vice-Chancellor additionally summoned the affected departments to a meeting where he expressed the university’s displeasure and warned lecturers and staff to desist from all actions that will bring the name of the university to disrepute.

“He warned that the university management would severely punish erring staff, especially those who are molesting or sexually harassing our students.”

He added that the Vice-Chancellor had, therefore, made a dedicated telephone number available to enable students report all forms of harassment by staff, especially sexual harassment.

He further assured students of the renewed determination of the university to protect them and treat all forms of allegations of sexual harassment with confidentially and all seriousness.