By Yinka Kolawole
In its avowed determination to rid the university of any form of sexual intimidation, harassment and/or coercion, the Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has dismissed another lecturer who was found guilty of sexual demeanor against a female student.
The Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the decision to dismiss Dr. Adebayo Mosobalaje of the Department of English Language in the Faculty of Arts, was taken by the University Council at its last sitting on Tuesday, 7th September, 2021.
Having exhaustively deliberated on the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, which investigated the case of sexual harassment against Mosobalaje, the University Council, unambiguously declared its zero tolerance for sexual harassment in any form or guise and accordingly, applied the appropriate sanctions for such an offence as contained in the school regulation.
Almost two weeks ago, the university management formally inaugurated an “anti-sexual harassment policy” where the wife of the Ekiti State governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, and her Osun State counterpart, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, presented papers, while a former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Prof. Yemisi Obilade, was the main speaker.
At several fora, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to uphold the “Zero tolerance policy” for sexual harassment and other social vices.
The university council, chaired by Owelle Oscar Udoji, has also pledged to support policies that promote mutual coexistence between all the members of the university community.
