Women
IWD: Curbing Sexual Harassment In Schools
The World celebrated an other International Women’s Day (IWD) recently and it has been usual for the past couple of years when global attention was focused on women. Women’s rights and issues have dominated the news, especially within the context of world reckoning on sexual misconduct against women not just in educational institutions but in almost all the industries.
But even as we mark this new vista in tackling sexual harassment against women and the possibility of the world becoming more sensitive to the cries and agonies of victims, there is still more to be done especially with regard to closest spaces such as educational institutions where massive sexual harassment goes on without attention with figures showing that women’s dignity and education are critically threatened by recurring sexual misconduct across the schools.
Within a span of few months, a university teacher was convicted of sexually harassing a post graduate female student by demanding many rounds of sex and using such incidence in exchange for good grades at the famous Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Afterwards, sentenced to prison terms at the University of Lagos was another senior lecturer and a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of a renowned Church and was suspended after he was exposed in a 13- minute video, documentary released by the BBC Africa Eye, where he was making advances towards an undercover reporter who disguised as a student seeking for admission into the school.
Similarly, at the university of Abuja, a lecturer was recently dismissed after the report of a panel set up to investigate allegations revealed that the lecturer and a professor for that matter, had really demanded sex from a female undergraduate in exchange for good scores.
Sadly, it would have seemed as if no lesson has been learnt with all these exposures as female students continue to be subjected to horrendous sexual predations by the lecturers and all those who hold power within the educational institutions and other industries, knowing fully well that there is nothing in place to actually check them as those exposed are only unfortunate to have suffered such accidental exposure.
The case is that no female is immune from the threat of sexual misconduct and molestation in the schools as lecturers operate with impunity defiling these young students and sending many of them into depression and a life time of mental agony.
To be certain, over the past years we have been regaled with tales of big time sexual assault scandals from the Nigerian campuses to have felt that these are common place incidents.
Yet, we know that these headlines only scratch at the extent and depth of the crisis as it is notoriously tough to gather data on the prevalence of sexual misconduct in Nigerian schools with most assaults underreported or unreported. However, the most common estimate is that about one in six female students of tertiary institutions remained the victim of a sexual assault during her years of studies, an estimate backed up by survey from the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women.
And showing that the crisis of sexual harassment in higher institutions is essentially a female problem, estimates on male victims of sexual assault are more variable, but they range from about one in twenty students, telling us that while anybody could experience that it is clear from the data that the female student on the campuses experience these negative behaviours at disproportionately higher rate than the males.
The implications of this is that we must start to see and approach the issues of sexual assault in schools as part of the larger exploitation problem of the females in the society.
We must put in place the environment in schools that would empower the female students and others within the system who set great store by what is right to be able to monitor and report every case of sexual misconduct.
The key therefore is to work towards the emergence of an environment in which the female students know that the system is out to protect and defend them against predators. When they have this support, it would not be difficult for them to stand against unwanted sexual advances from the male. Building and having in place such kind of environment could be made part of the requirements for accreditation of higher institutions by the various accrediting bodies.
This way, we would be integrating the healthy functioning of the female students into the running of the institutions and this will go a long way in showing that the society values it is female members and wants them to be free from sexual assault as well as putting in place a positive environment for the female students knowing the place of by-standers, victims and alleged perpetrators within the complex web of the school environment. Competent responses by security personnel, administrators, other students and staff will involve treating all parties with respect and due process, holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring that students who have been victimised, have the safety and support they need to stay in school in order to finish their studies.
In this context, all higher institutions in the country must be required as a matter of fact to work towards a culture of zero tolerance for sexual harassment with each institution being rated on the extent to which it is sticking to and publicising it is efforts in that regard.
As we join in the extended celebration of women as part of the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022, we must use the opportunity to reflect on how far we are from achieving gender equality in an atmosphere of rampant sexual harassment of women, especially on the campuses. As women march to the National Assembly to register their presence, they should be able to send firm and clear message that all kinds of sexual misconduct and assault are not desirable and acceptable in the society and citadels of learning. That will be one way of showing that stakeholders are ready to rid the institutions and the entire society of the gross menace of sexual harassment that has become a veritable threat to girl child education and the worthy presence of women in Nigeria.
Hence, we ought to aggressively curb the excesses of sexual misconduct plaguing the nation’s Ivory Towers.
It should be included in the Nigerian constitution that severe punishment awaits any offender when it comes to sexual harassment in schools whether on male or female citizen.
When any offender is punished, it will serve as deterrent to others who may be nursing such action.
By: Theresa Frederick
IVY-K Fashion by Igiebor Daddy Lucky, a Nigerian-born designer now based in the UK, has launched the latest menswear line, Dapper Man.
One of the collection’s strengths is its classic, clean aesthetic. Dapper Man delivers sharp, structured suits in a timeless black and white color scheme that exudes a sense of luxury and professionalism. The use of high-quality fabrics like wool and silk ensures that the suits not only look high-end but also feel luxurious to the wearer. The designer’s focus on detail is evident in the meticulous tailoring, with fitted blazers and crisp trousers forming the foundation of the collection.
Where IVY-K Fashion shines is in the subtle yet elegant touches. The inclusion of beads as embellishments on lapels and cuffs adds a unique flair, blending traditional craft with modern tailoring. This nod to African heritage gives the collection a distinct identity, offering something more personal and culturally significant than your standard menswear line.
However, despite the elegance of the Dapper Man collection, there is a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The black-and-white color palette, while classic, feels overly safe. In a fashion landscape where bold colors and daring patterns often make the strongest impact, the collection could benefit from incorporating more vibrant hues or experimenting with unconventional fabrics. Pushing the envelope with color or texture could elevate these designs from simply elegant to truly memorable.
In addition, while the tailoring of the blazers and trousers is immaculate, the collection lacks a sense of playfulness or modern edge that many contemporary menswear lines are embracing. The suits are undoubtedly stylish, but the collection as a whole leans heavily on tradition. Experimenting with asymmetrical cuts, bold patterns, or even layering could add an exciting dimension to Dapper Man. The challenge is to maintain the sleek sophistication of the collection while infusing it with a fresh, innovative spirit.
Another area that could use improvement is the overall cohesion of the collection. While the suits are well-crafted, there is a feeling of repetition across the pieces. More variation in design, such as different lapel styles, pocket configurations, or even bolder accessories, would give the collection greater diversity and visual interest.
In conclusion, Dapper Man by Igiebor Daddy Lucky showcases the designer’s strong grasp of classic tailoring and elegant design, but to truly capture the attention of a broader audience, IVY-K Fashion would benefit from more daring choices. By infusing the collection with bold colors, unexpected textures, and a more modern edge, Dapper Man could move from a well-crafted line to a trendsetting force in men’s fashion. With such a solid foundation, there’s no doubt that Igiebor Daddy Lucky has the potential to lead his brand toward greater heights
The trend of indecent dressing all in the name of fashion is fast becoming a norm in our generation and society at large. Most married women embrace this fashion as competition with single ladies.
Different scholars have given an in depth insight about dressing as a tool of communication. Non-verbal communication has been asserted as the communication between people by the means of signs or symbols. It conveys what we wish to disseminate to the public as either intentionally or not.
According to Paul Ekman and Michael Argyle, communication is carried out through what has been classified as “Presentational Code”. He listed nine codes of non-verbal communication, as body contact, facial expression, gestures, postures, eye movement, proximity, orientation, head nods and appearance.
This, being stated, married and single ladies should understand that their mode of dressing is communicative be it directly or indirectly as such body parts we call “private” are now being made public because of the trends or wearing of transparent dresses and this in turn calls on the attention of men who are weak and prone to illicit thoughts thus, resulting to most rape cases in our society.
This indecent dressing by most ladies has denied many their future husbands. The truth is that a man is attracted to his kind; his desires in marriage. It is often asserted that decency and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder, yet, in trending times of this 21st century, dress code and fashion in nudity form is gaining popularity.
This has become complicated as most men tend to toggle between their emotions (lust) and sanity (rationality) in terms of marriage, thereby setting a wrong foundation upon which most marriages are consummated.
On the other hand, most married women have embraced the trend of indecent dressing nipping it on the state of it being the choice dressing, approved by their spouses, leaving society with the question of what “responsible” man would prefer that the secrecy of the benefit of his marital vow has become the centre of attraction and viewership by the general public.
Hence, communicating with their dressing gas given licence to every male gender who is interested or attracted to what they see to make unsolicited sexual passes at them, which might be considered embarrassing.
At this juncture, it is important to state that ladies should dress decently knowing that they are the epitome of nation-building, they are nation-builders, character moulders and pacesetters not just in the lives of their families but to the society at large.
In most occasions, there are no clear border lines between the married women and the single ladies because of the rate of scanty dressing which has close the gap of differences.
Women and girls should embrace this call awakening to decent mode of dressing. Dresses that are meant to be worn indoors should remain indoors.
It is worrisome to see ladies wear shorts that are supposed to be worn in the living room on the streets without shame. This is an awakening call to our ladies, married and singles that the opposite sex do not expose their private body parts for the public. Sometimes, the ladies go about in the streets without wearing brazziers as to showcase their nipples.
The society should be sanitised of the menace of indecent dressing that is lurking and taking over the entire nooks and crannies of the society and the nation at large.
Let it be known that he or she is addressed in the manner he or she is dressed. There may be no room for a second impression. To the single ladies, your dressing decently will not stop you from meeting your Mr Right rather, it will increase your stake and place you on the list of most valued women in the society.
Dressing speaks louder than words.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha is an OND final year student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
