Sexual harassment: UNIZIK removes accused lecturers from offices

The authorities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), have formally removed lecturers accused of sexual harassment from their various official positions at the institution.

Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Advisor on Public Relations and Special Duties to the Institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, made this announcement in a press release on Friday.

Ojukwu insisted that there was no protest at the university despite failing to specify the names of the indicted officials in the statement and claiming that an inquiry into claims of sexual harassment by some academics is still ongoing.

The statement read, “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 would severely punish erring staff especially those who are molesting or sexually harassing our students.”

He continued by saying that the Vice Chancellor had set up a specific phone line so that students could report any kind of staff harassment, including sexual harassment.

He also reaffirmed the university’s commitment to upholding their rights and treating all claims of sexual misconduct seriously and in strict confidence.

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