ADO-EKITI — The Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has renewed her commitment to tackling sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, pledging stronger collaboration with educational authorities and relevant stakeholders to protect students from abuse.
Speaking during a meeting with the management of the Federal University Oye Ekiti FUOYE, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, at her office in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji said creating a safe and dignified learning environment must remain a priority for every educational institution.
The governor’s wife stressed that sexual harassment undermines academic excellence, damages lives and erodes public confidence in higher education. She said institutions must adopt firm preventive measures while ensuring victims are protected and encouraged to speak out without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
Oyebanji noted that her office would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening awareness, improving reporting mechanisms and promoting ethical conduct across campuses. She added that students deserve to pursue their education in an environment free from exploitation and abuse.
She also commended university authorities for engaging with her office on issues affecting students’ welfare, describing collaboration between government and educational institutions as essential to addressing social challenges within the academic community.
The renewed campaign comes amid growing national conversations over allegations of sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, with advocacy groups and students repeatedly calling for stricter enforcement of institutional policies and greater accountability for offenders.
Many education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, arguing that stronger policies, confidential reporting channels and prompt disciplinary action are necessary to discourage misconduct. They also believe sustained awareness campaigns can empower students to report abuse without fear of victimisation.
Public reactions on social media have largely been positive, with many Nigerians praising the Ekiti First Lady for speaking out on an issue they say has affected students for years. Several users described the move as timely, urging other state governments and university administrators to adopt similar measures to protect students.
However, some commentators argued that public declarations alone would not solve the problem. They called for independent investigation panels, transparent disciplinary procedures and strict enforcement of existing laws, insisting that meaningful action not just promises would restore confidence in tertiary institutions.
Women’s rights advocates also urged authorities to extend support services for survivors, including counselling, legal assistance and whistleblower protection. According to them, ensuring victims receive adequate support is just as important as punishing offenders.
Analysts say the success of the initiative will depend on sustained political will, institutional reforms and cooperation among government agencies, university management, students and civil society organisations. They maintain that consistent enforcement of anti-harassment policies will be key to creating safer campuses across Nigeria.
