Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu has turned down request to participate in an enlightenment conference on sex-for-marks and sexual exploitation on campus.
The conference is titled Rotational Campus Enlightenment Conference Against Sex-for-marks, Gratification-for-marks, Rape, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Exploitation on Campuses and Work Places, being organised by the South-east zone of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).
The letter of request for the programme, which was signed by the zonal coordinator, Comrade Kindness Jonah, reads thus: “With all due respect, to your exalted personality, we the organisers of the above conference do hereby most humbly request that you involve your school to fully participate in the programme.”
But instead of honouring the invitation for the thought provoking conference, the deputy vice chancellor, UNEC, Professor Edith Nwosu, through her secretary, Otti C. A, turned down the request by saying that she lacked “the requisite powers to grant your request.”
The deputy vice chancellor deftly rejected the offer with the following words: “Re: Graciously invited as a discussant and a humble request for UNEC to fully participate in an enlightenment conference titled: Rotational Campus Enlightenment Conference Against Sex-for marks, Gratification-for-marks, Rape, Sexual Harassment & Sexual Exploitation on Campuses and Work Places.”
“Your letter of November 8, 2019 addressed to the deputy vice-chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus and captioned as above refers.
“I have been directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter under reference, with thanks and advise that you direct your request to the vice-chancellor and chief executive officer of the university as the DVC lacks the requisite powers to grant your request. You are hereby so advised sir.”
However, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charles Igwe, who is the CEO of UNN, also turned down the request with an uncanny advice that the conference should hold elsewhere other than UNN.
In an unsavoury reply to the request, Professor Igwe, through the Deputy Registrar, Mrs Maria Chinwe Nwufo, averred thus: “This refers to your letter dated 8th November, 2019 to the Vice Chancellor inviting him as a discussant and to fully participate in an enlightenment conference titled: ‘Rotational Campus Enlightenment Conference Against Sex-for-marks, Rape, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Exploitation on Campuses and Work places.
“Professor Igwe acknowledges your effort to further the course of sanity in our higher education institutions. However, he has directed that I inform you of his inability to grant your request. Hence, University of Nigeria will not be involved or participate in the programme. He advised that you hold the conference elsewhere. “
