FedPoly Bali Trains Staff, Students on Gender Equality, Sexual Harassment Prevention
The Federal Polytechnic Bali in Taraba State has held a sensitisation workshop on gender equality, sexual harassment prevention and the promotion of a safe and inclusive learning environment for staff and students.
The programme, organised by the Gender Mobile Initiative in collaboration with the Polytechnic’s Students Affairs Division, was held on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the institution’s Executive Lecture Theatre.
The workshop also featured the training of newly selected Campus Champions, who are expected to play key roles in promoting awareness and supporting efforts to prevent sexual harassment, gender-based violence and other forms of misconduct within the institution.
Declaring the programme open, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Mohammed Usman, represented by the Director of Academic Planning, Engr. Dr Sani Isa Abubakar, commended the Gender Mobile Initiative for its sustained efforts to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence in tertiary institutions.
He stressed that the safety, dignity and wellbeing of students remain central to the institution’s mission, urging staff and students to work collectively towards creating a safe and inclusive campus.
Dr Usman identified the CampusPal App as an important tool for reporting incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based violence, particularly in addressing the culture of silence that often surrounds such cases.
He called on staff to uphold the Polytechnic’s zero-tolerance policy on misconduct and urged the newly trained Campus Champions to take their advocacy responsibilities seriously.
The Rector also assured the organisers of Management’s continued support, including the provision of logistics and technical facilities needed to sustain the initiative.
He further disclosed that selected members of the Institutional Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee would receive joint training to strengthen their capacity to investigate and respond appropriately to reported cases.
Speaking on the programme, the Director of Open and Distance Learning, Dr Yahaya Tukur, said the workshop was primarily designed to build the capacity of the newly selected Campus Champions.
Dr Tukur described the training as timely, given concerns surrounding sexual harassment in tertiary institutions, and urged participants to take the sessions seriously and contribute to the success of the initiative.
One of the resource persons, Mr Emmanuel Olatunde, presented a paper on the policy on sexual harassment in tertiary education institutions.
He explained the various forms of sexual harassment, the applicable legal framework and possible consequences for perpetrators, while also educating participants on appropriate reporting procedures and channels for addressing cases.
Another presenter, Miss Sharifat Onomotse, used a video presentation to demonstrate a sexual harassment case involving a student and showed how such an incident could be reported through the appropriate channels.
She also introduced participants to the CampusPal App and explained how it could facilitate the reporting of cases while helping to protect the identity of complainants.
In her closing remarks, the Dean of Students Affairs, Mrs Hauwa Bawa Pyiki, thanked the Polytechnic Management, Gender Mobile Initiative, Students’ Representatives Council and participants for their contributions to the success of the programme.
She emphasised the need for sustained collaboration and awareness to ensure a learning environment where students and staff can interact, work and study in safety, dignity and mutual respect.
