Sexual harassment among students in higher institutions of learning is no doubt a threat to the nation's development.

However, many factors are said to have contributed to the indecent behaviour. These factors include associating with bad gangs, sexual assault, domestic violence, sex discrimination, among other causes which have to be properly check-mated so as to curtail the menace in the society.

Female students especially are more vulnerable due to their lack of physical strength hence the need for all to rise up to the challenge and protect the future of the girl-child.

A scholar from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA, Prof. (Mrs.) Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka, in her speech at a public lecture organized by the University of Ilorin Centre for International Education (CIE) themed :"The Gendered Space of Knowledge: Interrogating Nigerian Women in The Academe", said that the scourge of sexual harassment in Nigerian higher institutions of learning is not only affecting women who are the victims of such abuse but also set the nation back in its attempt to become a viable nation.

The professor of Theatre, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, noted that sexual harassment is clearly an anathema to what the university is about, and no university that is worth its name wants to be bogged down with the implications to its reputation.

According to the lecturer, who is a younger sister of the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the existence of sexual harassment creates a hostile atmosphere that simply nullifies this primary requirement, stating that the issue is a difficult subject to explore, let alone admit it exists within the hallowed space of a university and that it is counter productive to the mission of the university.

She stressed that all hands are needed to be on deck, particularly in the field of knowledge production, as women were recognized as critical participants in this race to be a viable nation in the international arena.

She said, "Unless we face this squarely to have a better future because the way the situation is now, it seems we are destroying the potentials of not only our young women and men, and also further diminishing our already precarious status as a viable nation in the global arena.

"To end sexual intimidation in the universities, there is need to take cases of sexual intimidation and harassment seriously, and take positive actions to stop this abuse, it diminishes the perpetrator, and the institution that covers it up. Internal mechanisms should be set up to prosecute guilty parties to the fullest extent of the law."

Prof. Ajayi-Soyinka also called for the establishment of Women and Gender Studies Departments in Nigerian universities, in order to engender serious research and studies that would identify and analyze the specifics of the Nigerian context within the global structure, saying, "Women in various parts of the world are making phenomenal contributions in different disciplines. Nigeria is blessed with intelligent, capable women, and they should not be missing.

"Funding is another key component; we acknowledge that economy is often the reason cited in keeping women behind in academic matters. There should be scholarship specifically earmarked for girls' education."

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, added that women play critical roles in nation-building, pointing out that women academics have achieved tremendous success in various areas of academic interests, and citing the example of Prof. Grace Allele-Williams, who became a professor in 1976 before becoming the first Nigerian female vice chancellor in 1985.

Professor Ambali also revealed that University of Ilorin is being conscious over the years to prioritize gender equity in admission and recruitment exercises, adding that the university is one of the most gender-friendly institutions as equal opportunities are given to all.

"The university senate just elected the first woman Deputy Vice Chancellor in the history of this university, in the person of Prof. (Mrs.) N. Y. S. Ijaiya. The immediate past Registrar and a woman whose performance was widely commended", Ambali added.

In her remarks, Wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed who was represented by Barrister Biola Adimula, lamented the increase in sexual harassment and violation against women and girl-child in the country and assured that the state government is doing everything possible to protect the girl- child.