Women affairs minister asks varsities to set up sexual assault referral centres

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of women affairs, has asked universities to establish Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to address cases of sexual harassment.

The minister made the call on Monday while speaking at the National Summit on Addressing Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria in Abuja.

The event was organised by Alliances for Africa (AfA) in collaboration with the Committee of Gender Directors in Nigeria.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim described sexual harassment within educational institutions as a “global menace” and “a pervasive violation of human rights, particularly against women and girls.”

“Sexual harassment within educational institutions is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights, particularly against women and girls, whose effects transcend physical harm, leaving survivors with emotional, psychological, and socio-economic scars,” she said.

The minister reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to tackling sexual harassment and ensuring safe learning environments for all students.

Ihuoma Obibi, executive director of Alliances for Africa, stressed that the lack of an adequate response mechanism allows perpetrators to act with impunity.

“The summit aims to establish a standard framework for institutions, ensuring that every student can thrive without fear, regardless of their gender,” Obibi said.

The summit gathered stakeholders to discuss strategies for addressing sexual harassment in tertiary institutions and safeguarding students from abuse.