Students in tertiary institutions across the country have been advised to report any case of molestation, intimidation and all forms of harassment to relevant authorities for necessary action.

A group of Volunteers from an advocacy group, Sofadondo, gave the advice while carrying out a sensitisation exercise during the 2018 Carnival Calabar. A Lecturer at the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Mr. Cornel Ellah, who led the group, explained that Sofadondo is an advocacy group which stands against the current trend of "sex for marks" pervading the nation's tertiary institutions.

He expressed regret that harassment of students by Lecturers is having a negative effect on the educational growth of the nation and it is the desire of the group to offer support to students who are victims of victimisation or harassment by Lecturers

Mr. Ellah said the group decided to embark on the exercise during the Carnival Calabar because of the potentials the carnival offer in reaching the target audience. He expressed regret that harassment of students by Lecturers is having a negative effect on the educational growth of the nation and it is the desire of the group to offer support to students who are victims of victimisation or harassment by Lecturers. Another Volunteer, Mrs Hannah Etta, who is the Director of Management Information Systems Unit in CRUTECH, said it is important for victims of harassment in tertiary institutions to have a platform which can offer them protection and an opportunity to seek redress.

Mrs Etta said the response from students has so far been positive and called on relevant authorities to take practical steps to protect students from any activity by Lecturers which can hamper their academic growth.

On her part, another Volunteer, Miss Deborah Oyo, who is a graduate of Mass Communication Department in CRUTECH, noted that it was wrong for students to depend on Lecturers in order to get good grades while in school.

During the advocacy exercise, members of SOFADONDO interacted with several participants at the Carnival Calabar and distributed fliers and other information materials.

Source: Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (Radio).