THE Lagos State University (LASU) in partnership with Aston University located in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on Friday, July 28, 2023, held a listening exercise on “Prevention of Sexual Violence in Lagos State Campuses” for students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).
The British Council-funded exercise was aimed at testing the consciousness of selected staff and students of LASUSTECH to the existence of sexual violence in the institution.
Facilitators for the session include Dr Olawunmi Oni-Buraimoh of the Department of English Language at the Lagos State University, Dr Abayomi Bello from the Department of Theatre Arts at the Lagos State University, and Catherine Adewojo. The total participants for the event were about 42, comprising both staff and male and female students from Departments like Civil Engineering, Mass Communication, Basic Science, and Food Technology. The session was split into three: staff, male, and female.
Each session started with the introduction of participants, anchored by Dr Seide Akoro, Associate Partner at LASUSTECH. They were asked about their likes and dislikes in the institution. The members of staff present, enjoyed security on campus and cooperation and cordiality among colleagues. They also commented that they enjoy learning from the students, the academic freedom the institution offers, and that they find the students interesting.
The male students, on their part, liked the fact that off-campus accommodations are close to the institution, they liked the serenity of the campus, the freedom they enjoy in the school, and regular advice from the school’s management.
For the female students, they claim to enjoy the lecturers’ attitude to work, their support, and the organisation of the school’s library.
After this introductory session, participants were then administered anonymous-response questions using the Ment app. Some questions they were asked include “How can University campuses be made safer?” “What practical actions can be taken to make campuses safer?” and “What would you like to be included in Support Services for students/staff?” Some of their responses include the provision of adequate security on campuses, guaranteed safety for complainants, and a working system geared at investigating and prosecuting cases institutionalized in the University system.
Other responses include immediate punishment should be meted out to sexual offenders to deter others from committing such offences, continuous student orientation on the need to end sexual harassment, and counselling and continuous education about the hazard of careless social relations.