The Centre for Gender Studies at Gombe State University has called on students and staff to familiarize themselves with the institution's sexual harassment policy and report any violations promptly. The Director of the Centre, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar-Kumo, made the call during a campus-wide awareness walk organized to sensitize members of the university community on the policy. The awareness campaign aims to ensure that students and staff understand what constitutes sexual harassment, how to prevent it, and the channels available for reporting incidents.
According to Dr. Abubakar-Kumo, the university launched the sexual harassment policy in April but could not immediately embark on the planned awareness walk. Copies of the policy have been distributed to various offices, while electronic versions are also being circulated through different online platforms to enable students and staff to access and study the document. The policy is designed to help members of the university community understand the "dos and don'ts," including behaviors and actions that could amount to sexual harassment.
Dr. Abubakar-Kumo urged students to be proactive in protecting themselves and others, stressing that bystanders could play an important role in preventing sexual harassment. She advised students to make effective use of their smartphones to document incidents where possible, urging them to "be smarter than their smartphones." The director also disclosed that the university had established desk officers across its departments and units to receive complaints, with about 50 desk officers operating across the main campus, Dukku, and the university's other locations.
The awareness walk, which began at the Rashidi Multipurpose Hall, passed through several parts of the university, including the faculties of Social Sciences, Education, and Science, the hostels, medical college, part-time and Open Distance Learning areas, library, and postgraduate facilities before ending at the T-junction. Dr. Abubakar-Kumo said the university made arrangements for water and an ambulance during the exercise, adding that no incident was recorded.
According to Dr. Abubakar-Kumo, the centre had not received any formal complaint of sexual harassment since the policy was launched, although there had been informal reports of alleged incidents. She advised students to study the policy carefully, saying doing so would help them distinguish between conduct that amounted to sexual harassment and behavior that did not. Understanding the policy would enable students and staff to know when to report an incident and how to respond appropriately.
Dr. Abubakar-Kumo stressed that the reporting mechanism was open to everyone, irrespective of their status, saying, "Our doors are open to all, irrespective of your position in the university." She urged members of the university community to be aware of the policy and understand the rules and regulations to abide by them, ensuring a peaceful and respectful environment where students can feel free to study and live.
The director also disclosed that the university was putting mechanisms in place to investigate allegations and ensure that complaints were properly handled, stressing that the absence of formal complaints did not necessarily mean sexual harassment did not occur. The university community is encouraged to study the policy document and report any incidents, with the centre's doors open to receive complaints and provide support.
Key points
- Gombe State University has launched a sexual harassment policy and awareness campaign to educate students and staff on the policy and encourage prompt reporting of violations.
- The university has established desk officers across its departments and units to receive complaints, with about 50 desk officers operating across the main campus and other locations.
- The centre has not received any formal complaint of sexual harassment since the policy was launched, although there have been informal reports of alleged incidents.
