In a bid to effectively combat Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in tertiary institutions, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has called for safeguarding policies and laws to protect students’ well-being and academic progress.
Speaking at a Public Policy forum which held on Thursday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre Abuja, on creation of safeguarding policies at institutions of higher learning, the Deputy Senate President in the 9th Session of the upper legislative chamber said Nigeria needs to institutionalize safeguards against sexual and gender-based violence.
“The development of safeguarding policies is not merely a preventative measure but a transformative step toward creating a culture of respect and equity in our institutions.
This aligns with the fundamental belief that when we educate a woman, we educate a nation.
“By protecting and empowering our young women, we foster a generation that is resilient, confident, and unburdened by the societal contradictions that have historically impeded their full potential,” Omo-Agege stated.
Represented by Chief Francis Atanomeyovwi, Commissioner (South-South) National Assembly Service Commission, Senator Omo-Agege recalled his earlier effort to address the issue when he was Deputy Senate President, and said he had sponsored the Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Prohibition, Prevention, and Redressal Bill.
The bill which was co-sponsored and unanimously supported by the 9th Senate, sought to end the culture of harassment that plagues institutions, where women, especially young female students, often find themselves vulnerable to predatory behaviours by those in positions of power.
Although it was passed by the Senate, Omo-Agege regretted that it was eventually not signed into law.
“But Government is a continuous process and efforts should be made by the 10th National Assembly to represent the bill,” he remarked, noting that the principles underpinning the legislation emphasize the doctrine of trust and duty of care that educators and administrators owe to their students.
He urged the participants to “forge a pathway where every student has the right to learn in peace, dignity, and safety. It is only by uniting our voices, efforts, and resources that we can transform our institutions into beacons of safety, equity, and respect.”
The public policy forum was organised by the Yar’Adua Foundation, Ford Foundation, the Gender Mobile Initiative, Education as a Vaccine, and the Nigerian Association of Female Students.
Signed
Sunny Areh
Media Adviser to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege
