In a significant development, the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has forged a landmark agreement with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos to tackle the pervasive issue of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The partnership was deemed crucial at this juncture due to the alarming frequency of reported cases of abuse affecting both students and staff, male and female, within the nation’s higher education institutions.
The quest for a lasting solution to this issue was first proposed in July 1994, and remarkably, it took nearly three decades for the initiative to come to fruition. Just last month, it marked one year since the initiative was launched at a conference attended by key stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Education, 20 State Commissioners of Education, and representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Colleges of Education, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Addressing the management and implementation committee of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Mrs. Blessing Omotunde, representing the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), noted that sexual harassment and gender-based violence have become increasingly concerning, warranting global attention. “It’s a pressing issue that affects individuals worldwide, with reports indicating that one in seven persons experiences some form of abuse before age 18, ultimately compromising their overall well-being,” she said. Omotunde added, “This problem isn’t unique to any region or institution, and it’s heartbreaking to see reports of such incidents. The dynamics of sexual and gender-based violence are complex, involving student-student and educator-student interactions, among others.”
She emphasized that the policy aims to protect all members of tertiary institutions, including academic and non-academic staff. “The issue is multifaceted, with instances of students harassing educators and non-educators, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts between our organization and institutions to tackle this problem effectively.”
The Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI) implemented several modalities to fund the project, including a startup grant of ₦150,000 as a motivational incentive. Additionally, GMI developed a mobile app called “Campus Map App,” which serves as an educational tool for both students and non-students.
The Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, along with other management staff, gratefully acknowledged and accepted the offer extended by the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI).
The Provost presenting a gift to Malam Abdulhakeem Bello, an NBTE Director during the latter’s visit to the institution while the institution’s PRO, Tolulope Ojemuyiwa looks on
Gift presented by the Provost, Gbenga Adefaye to Mrs. Blessing Omotunde, the representative of Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI) after the signing of MOU.
NIJ’s Sexual and Gender-based violence committee members posed for a photograph during the official policy presentation and signing of Memorandum of Understanding MOU between the Institution and Gender Mobile Initiative GMI to address the issue of sexual harassment in tertiary institutions last week.
Left to right: Senior lecturer, Dr. Bolaji Fati, Public Relations Officer, Tolulope Ojemuyiwa, Senior lecturer Mrs. Oruoma Odum, GMI Representative, Mrs. Blessing Omotunde, Provost Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, NBTE Director, Malam Abdulhakeem Bello, Dep. Provost, Dr. Boye Ola, Head, Gen. Studies, Mrs. Maureen Popoola, and lecturer Mrs. Christiana Okoh
