TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA
The management of the Federal Polytechnic Bida has restated its commitment to ending all forms of harassment against students through strict enforcement of punitive measures against erring staff and students.
The institution’s Director of Gender Issues, Hajiya Hussaina Hassan gave the assurance during the second annual sensitisation programme organised by the Directorate for newly admitted students.
“This office is assuring you that those who are found guilty shall be brought to justice. Call out for help when facing any sexual harassment either from academic staff, non-academic staff or your fellow students,” she stated.
The Director informed the gathering that the Directorate was established by the Dkukogi-led management to prevent harassment of and violence against both genders, and to give them equal access to opportunities.
“This office was created to help prevent harassment of women, men, boys and girls from happening and ultimately eradicate it from this institution,” she hinted, adding that “gender-based discrimination and violence will stay unless there is long-term commitment and shared action among various sectors including at community level,” she explained.
According to her, the annual sensitization programme was introduced as part of efforts to inspire change in attitudes and beliefs that promote gender-based violence and inequality. Speaking at the occasion, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Abubakar Abdul Dzukogi represented by a Director in the Deputy Rector’s office, Engineer Abdulasalam, noted that the sensitization became necessary to encourage proper balance in women integration in work and homebuilding.
“There is no doubt that gender plays a significant role in promoting or retarding a society’s development process.”“In this vein, this programme is organized to educate and sensitize us for better understanding of gender roles, especially for females, and how it contributes to national development,” Dzukogi stated.
According to him, the polytechnic had already put in place a policy on dress code, as part of measures to prevent gender-based violence on the campus, advising the students to imbibe the dress code, “as anyone found dressing indecently will be penalised.”
In his remarks, the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Alhaji Baba Shehu called on participants to shun gender-based violence, especially among men who considered themselves superior to women.
