ICPC Moves Against Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has renewed its call for the full implementation of the Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy across Nigerian tertiary institutions, insisting that the policy must move beyond mere documentation to practical enforcement.

This emphasis was made during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held on Thursday at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja. The event was co-hosted by the ICPC, Gender Mobile Initiative, and the FCT Education Secretariat, and aimed at promoting state-level adoption of the Model Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy.

In his special remarks, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN—represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, DSSRS—reaffirmed the ICPC’s commitment to combating all forms of corruption, including sexual harassment, which he described as both an abuse of office and a criminal act.

Dr. Aliyu noted that the ICPC’s collaboration with Gender Mobile Initiative and the Ford Foundation has led to the development of the Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy in line with Section 6 of the ICPC Act. He added that the initiative also supports Gender Mobile’s Campus Safety Initiative (CSI), which uses education and technology to prevent sexual harassment in academic settings.

While acknowledging that many institutions already have internal mechanisms in place, he said the model policy provides a robust benchmark for strengthening existing frameworks or developing new ones that align with global best practices.

“The ICPC cannot fight this alone,” he said, stressing the importance of partnerships between government agencies and civil society groups. He quoted the proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,” to highlight the need for collective action.

Dr. Aliyu also revealed that with support from the Ford Foundation, the ICPC has developed similar model policies for secondary and basic educational institutions, which have received approval from the Federal Ministry of Education and are accessible via the Commission’s website.