Unizik VC dismisses the instructor under investigation for alleged sexual harassment.

Professor Charles Esimone, the vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, has dismissed Mr. Afam Ezeaku, a lecturer in the law faculty, following allegations of sexual harassment.

This was revealed in a press statement sent to journalists on Friday by Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Advisor to the Vice Chancellor on Public Relations and Special Duties.

Ojukwu, however, insisted that it was untrue that university students had demonstrated against sexual harassment at the school.

According to media reports, demonstrators accused the Vice Chancellor of failing to act on a panel report that indicted Ezeaku and was headed by Prof. Obi Oguejiofor.

It is crucial to note that there was absolutely no protest at the campus.

"However, a probe into claims of sexual harassment by several instructors is still ongoing. The concerned teachers were abruptly removed from their official posts, and the impacted departments received stern warning letters from the Vice Chancellor, the speaker stated.

He claimed that the university's disadvantage was that the students who had made sexual harassment claims were reluctant to appear before the panel conducting the investigation.

Ojukwu claimed that the vice chancellor also called a meeting with representatives from the impacted departments, where he voiced the university's disapproval and urged professors and staff to refrain from any actions that would damage the university's reputation.

According to him, the VC issued a warning that the university administration would harshly penalize incompetent employees, particularly those who were molested or sexually harassed pupils.

According to Ojukwu, the vice chancellor has set up a specific hotline so that students can report any kind of staff harassment, particularly sexual harassment.

"He further reassured students of the university's renewed commitment to safeguarding them and treating all claims of sexual harassment with the seriousness and confidentiality they merit."