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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.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
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Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.
