Headlines
CAJA expresses concern over sexual harassment in tertiary institutions
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Continued occurrence of sexual harassment in higher institutions of learning in the country has been
disturbing Center for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA).
The menace seems to be on the increase.
KANO FOCUS observed that the perpetrators of such act seem to be
getting away with it as rare or no punishment has been meted against them.
If punishment is meted against such
perpetrators, the gesture would really
serve as a deterrent against others.
CAJA is lending a campaign against the
act in the country’s institutions of learning.
Cross section of participants
That is why it recently organized an
interactive stakeholders’ session at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano metropolis with a view to deepening discussion on the issue.
The theme of the event was: ‘The Role
of the Media on Curbing the Menace of
Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions.’
The center invited seasoned panelists
who shared their views and perspectives on how best journalists or stakeholders could do to end the menace.
The panelists were Malama Nafisa
Murtala Ahmad from Exrpress Radio;
Malama Sadiya Aliyu from Solace Base
and Malam Mustapha Gambo Muhammad from Pyramid Radio respectively.
Cross section of participants
During the event proper, journalists and students from various media organizations and institutions of learning in the state, held the view that there should be more commitment of stakeholders in pursuing cases of sexual harassment to logical conclusion.
Stakeholders observed that it was not
only the males that perpetrate the act,
even the females, to some extent, do engage in such harassment.
They however observed lack of or non
availability of serious codes in tertiary institutions that spell the punishment to be meted against the perpetrators.
They posited that there should be written documents that would warn any would-be perpetrator of the act and the punishment to be meted on him or her.
They acknowledged that most cases
treated on sexual harassment, in the past, in some institutions of learning in the country, hinged on dismissal of the culprits – that is all, saying that apart from dismissal, the culprits should be made to face the wrath of the law of the land.
Nafisa Murtala Ahmad
It was observed that not only indecency used to attract sexual harassment, but
however, even ladies in Hijab used to fall victims of the menace.
Again, what drew attention of participants at the event was the issue of a bill laying before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his assent.
The bill tagged: ‘Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions Prohibition Bill 2023,’ if passed into law, would help a lot in addressing or wiping out the menace or its eradication completely from the nation’s tertiary institutions.
That is CAJA or its partners like Evelyn
T. Ugbe, the Vulnerable Population Sector Manager and Mr. Eric Umoru from Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) team, who attended the event all the way from Abuja, the capital of the nation, posited that the media should pursue the passage of the bill vigorously as it provided preventive mechanism to the nation’s students against the menace.
Ugbe said the media should maintain
the momentum so that assent to the bill
should see the light of the day.
In his votes of thank, the Senior Program Officer of CAJA, Malam Akibu Hamisu Garko, while thanking everybody for attending the event, said they took the campaign against the menace in tertiary institutions in the state as very significant so as to eradicate it completely.
Malam Akibu Hamisu Garko
Garko said creating awareness
about the menace in the institutions would help in doing away with it, adding that the students in such institutions should know the existence of such clusters around them with a view to knowing the needed things to do in case of any harassment.
He urged the media to do the needful
and understand the cluster in tertiary institutions, which he added had done a lot on seeing that the bill waiting to be assented by the presidency scaled through.
He said what they prayed for was the
inauguration of an independent sexual harassment committee that would ginger up efforts towards actualizing the dream of their organization.
The Executive Director of CAJA, Malam
Kabir Sa’id Dakata, coordinated the
panel session of the event very well.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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