The Centre for Gender Affairs at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai has marked this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme: “Sensitization on Sexual Harassment and Drug Abuse”.

The event which took place at the Auditorium, main campus, provided a platform for discussions on gender equality, campus safety, and the dangers of drug abuse.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, emphasized the importance of fostering a safe and inclusive academic environment, acknowledging that both male and female students could be victims of sexual harassment.

He proposed the establishment of campus ambassadors to act as peer educators and urged traditional and religious leaders to actively engage in awareness efforts, warning on the rising prevalence of drug abuse and noting its links to violence and criminal activities with a needed collective action to combat these challenges.

The Director of the Centre, Professor Naomi John Dadi- Mahmud, highlighted the significance of the event, stressing that sexual harassment and drug abuse are serious societal issues affecting young people.

She provided an overview of Nigeria’s legal framework, addressing sexual offenses, referencing Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, the Penal Code, the Criminal Code, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP 2015).

In their presentations, Professor Roseline Bukoye, a professor of Counseling and Psychology, spoke on “Sexual Harassment: Morals and Dressing, while Assistant Commander of Narcotics Wade Yakubu Umar from NDLEA discussed, “Sexual Harassment and Drug Abuse”.

They defined sexual harassment as any unwelcome verbal, non-verbal, or physical sexual behaviour that makes a person feel uncomfortable, humiliated, or intimidated, with examples including unwanted touching, suggestive comments, or persistent advances.

Drug abuse, on the other hand, was described as the misuse of substances like cocaine, cannabis, codeine, and opioids, leading to addiction, mental health issues, and other negative consequences.

The speakers emphasized that morality plays a key role in preventing sexual harassment, as respect, self-control, and empathy help individuals understand personal boundaries and the impact of inappropriate behavior.

In her Vote of Thanks, Dr. Balarabe Abubakar Sule, Deputy Director, Centre for Gender Affairs, expressed gratitude to, the Vice-Chancellor, the Speakers and all participants for their contributions.

She acknowledged the Centre’s commitment to gender justice and student welfare, assuring that its impact would continue to be felt across campus.

The event concluded with a call to action, urging students and staff to become advocates of gender justice, campus safety, and a drug-free environment, reinforcing IBBUL’s reputation as a center of excellence, morality, and inclusion.