Determined to tackle head-on the prevalent issues around sexual harassment in universities, places of work across the country, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS) the first paperless academic institution in Africa has launched an e-platform called ngrcampus.com/help desk in Lagos.
The informative e-platform according to CIAPS will provide solutions to any form of harassment meted out to undergraduates, postgraduate students in universities and employees in Nigeria.
Anthony Kila, CIAPS centre director says the vision behind setting up this help desk was driven by the need to urgently eradicate the sense of impunity of the perpetrators of sexual harassment and the sense of hopelessness of victims.
Kila while speaking at the launch of the platform in Lagos pointed out that move to address incidents of harassment in Nigeria today should be of great national interest to both the government and private sector that are in a position to help.
Kila said the concept of the Help desk is fashioned to put an end to any form of harassment as a middle man channel between the victims and the other experts.
“Help desk is a middle man channel between the victim and the other experts and it is ready to carry out its duties having qualified and professional experts on ground to meet the need and help to proffer solutions to these problems”.
Kila further said that while the pioneers of this e-platform are passionate about this initiative, they are also eager to see that justice is meted out to perpetrators. “Each case will be dealt with individually within 48 hours”, he said.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to join this initiative to offer ideas and financial help, adding that confidentiality is the sole core of this initiative, keeping anonymous and secure.
Tola Adeniyi, former chairman of Daily Times Nigeria while speaking at the unveiling of the informative platform said the help desk is not only restricted to schools or students, graduate, but workplaces, employees etc are also encouraged to be a part of this initiative.
Adeniyi noted that help desk is unique in its sense, unlike the other platform that only treat issues relating to sexual harassment,ngrcampus.com/help desk deals with all forms of harassment, sexual, extortion, sadism and other forms of harassments.
He charged the media especially the online media to enforce articles through their pen telling the world that there is a salvation desk for students, calling on parents religious leaders to subscribe to this great initiative.
The help desk hope to work with the students union, students affairs, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other students associated groups.
Adeniyi urged victims to visit the website fill the forms and place a complaint and experts will take it up from there.
KELECHI EWUZIE
