UNIBUJA pledges structured measures to tackle sexual harassment on campus
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has called for stronger, practical pathways to enhance the protection of women and girls in Nigeria, emphasising that legal frameworks must translate into real access to justice for victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Alogba noted that Nigeria already has a solid, constitutional, statutory, regional and international legal foundation for safeguarding the rights of women and girls, citing key provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), including Section 33 on the right to life, Section 34 on the right to dignity of the human person, and Section 42 on freedom from discrimination.

He spoke during the International Women’s Day (IWD) roundtable, themed “Rights, Justice, Actions for All Women and Girls,” organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos.

According to him, while these constitutional guarantees are robust, their true value lies in how effectively they are implemented and accessed by citizens.

He stressed that justice must go beyond legislation to ensure accessibility, enforceability and effectiveness in protecting the most vulnerable members of the society.

Director-General, NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, represented by Head, Security and Strategic Studies Division, Research and Studies Department, NIIA, Prof. Joshua Bolarinwa, described International Women’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience, wisdom and contributions of women across the world.

He noted that the 2026 campaign theme “Give to Gain,” emphasises collaboration, mentorship and mutual support as key drivers of gender equality and sustainable development.

Also, Acting Head, Gen. Leo Irabor Early Warning System Centre, NIIA, Dr Omotola Ilesanmi, said that conflicts in Nigeria disproportionately affect women, leading to displacement and sexual violence.
She noted that women play critical roles in conflict prevention at community levels but are excluded from formal negotiations.

In another development, the newly appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Prof. Rosemary Udeozor, has assured students and members of staff of the institution of concrete measures to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on campus, as part of efforts to strengthen protections against sexual harassment in the institution.

Udeozor gave the assurance in Abuja during a media briefing by the Centre for Gender Studies in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, and the launch of a national baseline survey on sexual harassment in Nigerian public universities.

According to Udeozor, the university’s Senate has already mandated a committee to develop comprehensive guidelines that will establish a structured process for reporting, investigating and sanctioning cases of sexual harassment.

Udeozor said that the proposed structure would allow complaints to be reported at departmental and faculty levels before reaching a central committee to make the reporting process more accessible to students and members of staff.

She, however, assured members of the university community that the management is committed to ensuring a safe academic environment, noting that once the policy is approved, a formal mechanism will be established to handle complaints and protect students and members of staff.