President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said that culprits
of sex-for-marks in Nigerian tertiary institutions would be made to face the
full weight of the law.
He added that anyone found culpable will serve the stiffest
punishment under the law.
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Buhari warned that his administration would not condone any form of indiscipline and misdemeanour, saying that he had directed appropriate government agencies to take decisive and firm action against any lecturer or other staff found culpable in any act of sexual harassment in both the nation’s educational and other institutions.
The president said this in his address at the 35th
convocation of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
Buhari who is the visitor to the university was represented
at the event by a deputy director in the National University Commission (NUC),
Dr Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf .
A total of 12,009 students were graduated at the ceremony
with 130 of them bagging first-class degrees honours.
Buhari added: “Definitely, our universities can do without
the negative and scandalous attention being paid to them and our dear nation in
the wake of trending stories of sex- for- grades and sexual harassment, which
has assumed a global dimension.
“It is most
reprehensible that while some of our more illustrious university staff are
making concerted efforts to improve the continental and global ranking of
Nigeria’s universities and indeed some of our universities are already
beginning to make more respectable showing on continental and global league and
ranking tables, such efforts are now being overshadowed by the negative
reputation of immorality and shame being brought upon our citadels of higher
learning by the irresponsibility and indiscipline of a few misguided academics
.
“It is most disheartening that people who are expected to
train, guide and groom students in loco parentis turned round to breach the
trust and confidence reposed in them by exploiting the students entrusted into
their care and under their tutelage.
“Henceforth all culprits shall face the full wrath of law as
they will be prosecuted and those found guilty will serve the stiffest
punishment under the law.
“I urge our university administrators in particular and all
categories of staff to spare no efforts in ensuring that our higher
institutions live up to the expectations of training and developing graduates
who are in truth and indeed, worthy in character and learning.”