Despite a strict sexual harassment policy at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), cases of abuse persist, with female students unwilling to speak publicly for fear of victimisation and rustication.
Findings from an investigation revealed that harassment remains rife, casting doubts on the effectiveness of the institution’s policy framework.
One of the students who gained admission into BUK’s Faculty of Education in 2021 narrated how her studies were cut short following harassment by a lecturer. Her ordeal began in her second year when she requested a makeup test after missing a class assessment.
According to her, the lecturer initially agreed but later began calling and texting her on WhatsApp. He scheduled the test for a Saturday and insisted she sit directly in front of his desk when she arrived at his office, despite her preference to sit by the door.
Amina said the incident marked the beginning of a distressing experience that eventually forced her to withdraw from the university. Although BUK has repeatedly emphasised a zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment, fear of reprisal continues to deter survivors from seeking redress.
Students who were approached during a recent investigation admitted awareness of the policy but declined to comment, citing fear of expulsion.
