In commemoration of International Women’s Day, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, the executive director of Gender Mobile Initiative, called on lawmakers to take decisive action against sexual harassment, highlighting its devastating impact on women’s economic and political inclusion in Nigeria.
Speaking under the theme ‘Economic and Political Inclusion: Walk the Talk’, Ogunrotimi emphasized that gender-based violence, particularly sexual harassment in educational institutions and workplaces, remains a critical barrier to women’s advancement.
She cited the case of Iyanu, a university student whose academic and career trajectory was derailed due to sexual harassment by a lecturer. After reporting the abuse, Iyanu faced retaliation, and intimidation, and ultimately had to drop out of school, a situation that mirrors the experiences of countless Nigerian women.
“The long-term effects of sexual harassment extend beyond psychological trauma; they directly impede economic participation, career progression, and financial independence,” Ogunrotimi asserted.
“When educational institutions become spaces of fear rather than empowerment, they cease to function as vehicles for economic transformation.”
She underscored the need for immediate legislative intervention, particularly the passage of the *Sexual Harassment Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal in Tertiary Educational Institutions Bill*, which was transmitted to the Senate in 2024 but remains unpassed.
The bill, designed to provide legal protection for students and workers against sexual harassment, has been stalled despite broad public support, including advocacy efforts from civil society organizations, student movements, and the media.
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Ogunrotimi linked the absence of strong legal protections to Nigeria’s persistent gendered economic disparities, stressing that when women are denied safe learning and working environments, they are systematically excluded from leadership and decision-making roles.
This exclusion, she warned, has long-term consequences for national development, as fewer women in education translate to fewer female professionals, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
She further urged the Senate to accelerate action by enacting gender-responsive laws, enforcing strict penalties for sexual harassment, and creating accountability mechanisms to ensure institutions comply with anti-harassment policies.
“The failure to act is costing us economically, socially, and politically,” she declared. “We must transition from policy inertia to legislative responsiveness. We must walk the talk.”
