Some lecturers involved in the sexual harassment of students at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, have been demoted.
Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, the university’s vice chancellor’s special adviser on public relations and special duties, revealed this.
Ojukwu, however, refuted claims made on social media that university students recently conducted a protest against sexual harassment on campus in the statement on Friday.
The media adviser for the VC stated that there was an ongoing inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made against some instructors, and that the vice chancellor had fired those involved professors and sent them severe warning letters.
Ojukwu’s statement read in part,”The attention of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Management has been drawn to a publication in the social media that female students of our university were protesting sexual harassment by lecturers in the university. It is important to state that there was no protest of any sort in the university.
“However, there is an ongoing 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 will severely punish erring staff especially those who are molesting or sexually harassing our students.
“The Vice Chancellor has therefore made a dedicated telephone number available to enable students report all forms of harassment by staff especially sexual harassment.
” He further assures students of the renewed determination of the university to protect them and treat all forms of allegations of sexual harassment with the seriousness it deserves and confidentially.”