The Kano State Government has pledged to take strict legal action against any teacher or school staff member found guilty of sexually harassing students, vowing that offenders will face the full force of the law.
This was made known in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibrahim Sumaila, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abba Yusuf on Student Matters.
According to Sumaila, the state government is determined to address the growing concern of sexual harassment in educational institutions. His remarks came during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), which focused on tackling the rising cases of abuse in schools.
He reaffirmed the government’s backing for non-governmental organizations working to combat sexual harassment and promote reform in the education sector.
The meeting, which brought together students, media representatives, and other stakeholders, also marked the launch of CAJA’s six-month advocacy project aimed at combating sexual harassment through targeted policy development within schools.
Speaking at the event, CAJA’s Executive Director, Kabiru Dakata, stressed the need for clear and enforceable policies in both secondary and tertiary institutions, highlighting that many schools either lack sexual harassment policies or only address the issue vaguely in student handbooks.
In a firm warning, Sumaila added, “As an Islamic state, Kano will not stand by while our daughters are subjected to abuse and humiliation. Any teacher who violates a student will be identified, removed, and prosecuted without hesitation.”
