News
ICPC Charges Students, Youths To Speak Up Against Sexual Harassment
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday challenged youths to speak out and report cases of sexual harassment, particularly in tertiary institutions to relevant authorities.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, threw the challenge in Keffi, Nasarawa State in a message he sent to a sensitisation workshop on sexual harassment in territory institutions.
Owasanoye was represented at the workshop by ICPC’s spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua.
She said the workshop was designed to enlighten students and youths on the contents of a policy on the issue of sexual harassment, and to give them insights on how to fight the menace.
“The commission is trying to get students to step forward and report the cases. We want them to provide the ICPC with details needed to carryout diligent investigations.
“We are expecting a high number of reportage from students after the workshop because when they have been exposed to what we are looking for, we should expect them to respond by writing to us.
“They should call us on our toll free numbers and get across to us as soon as they suspect that they or their friends are being harassed.
“Youths, especially students have been our major stakeholders. Issues that concern them are always prioritised by the commission in all our activities and programmes.
“In 2013, ICPC conducted a system study and a major issue that was flagged for attention was `Sex-for-Grades,’ ‘’ she said.
She explained that “sex-for-grades’’ was found to be rampant in universities and other tertiary institutions and also in secondary schools.
She said also that ICPC’s Sexual Harassment Unit had conducted capacity building for investigators and prosecutors on the prevention of abuse of office and sexual harassment in the country’s institutions.
Ogugua added that the unit had also conducted public engagement and interaction with civil society on sexual harassment in secondary and tertiary institutions with support from Ford Foundation, a development partner.
In a paper he presented on “Sexual harassment, an offence against the individual/a crime against society, Mr Adenekan Shogunle, Deputy Director, Legal Unit, ICPC, tasked workshop participants to regard the fight as a collective one.
He submitted that youths should not tolerate sexual harassment and stressed that the menace needed to be stopped to ensure the safety of educational institutions for learning.
“What is essentially a social disorder has become normal in many tertiary institutions.
“Absence of effective grievance remedial mechanisms and prevalent culture of silence, social tolerance has left many female students at the mercy of rabid predators.
“In a bid for justice, survivors are taking matters into their own hands; naming perpetrators and sharing experiences on social media,’’ he noted.
Shogunle encouraged workshop participants to make use of platforms provided by the ICPC to report all cases of sexual harassment for effective handling.
In another paper, Mrs Peace Aroch, Assistant Director, Legal Unit, ICPC, said sexual harassment had psychological implications, which had to do with the mental or emotional state of the survivor.
She said people sexually-harassed commonly experienced stress, anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Aroch stressed that sexual harassment was still being under-reported in spite of its social media posts.
She noted that sexual harassment was still being under-reported because of issues of trust, security, fear and poor financial standing of survivors.
Aroch called on private and public sectors to establish their workplaces sexual harassment policies, adding that they could make recourse to ICPC’s sexual harassment policy to prepare their own.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
-
Politics3 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News3 days agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
News12 hours ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
News13 hours ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports2 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Politics3 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics3 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries
-
Politics3 days agoOtu Vows To Recall Indolent, Arrogant Cross River Legislators