Survivors of sexual harassment, student leaders, and campus advocates gathered in Kano for a training session focused on confronting abuse and institutional silence in tertiary institutions.
The programme, “Advocacy and Public Awareness Training for Survivors of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions in Kano State,” was organized by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) in collaboration with the Center for Advocacy on Justice and Accountability (CAJA).
Comrade Kabiru Saidu Dakata, Director of CAJA, said the training was necessary to center the experiences of those directly affected.
“We cannot continue to pretend that sexual harassment is not happening in our schools. Survivors must be at the center of the advocacy, and we need to work together to end the silence that protects abusers,” he said.
Dakata also led a session on delivering impactful advocacy messages in limited time.
“When you only have 30 seconds to make your case, every word counts. You must be clear about your goal, know who you’re speaking to, and leave them with something they can’t ignore,” he said.
Barrister Maryam Ahmad, a legal practitioner and gender rights advocate, discussed the legal and institutional tools available to survivors.
“Advocacy is not just about shouting. It’s about knowing the system, using the law, and pushing for change that lasts,” she said.
“Our institutions have policies on sexual harassment, but the problem is often implementation. That’s where your voices come in.”
Comrade Adam Dakata emphasized the role of public awareness in changing social attitudes.
“If we don’t talk about it, nothing changes. Public awareness is what helps people unlearn harmful ideas and see harassment for what it is — abuse of power,” he said.
“Silence helps the perpetrators. Awareness builds pressure, and pressure brings accountability.”
During the closing session, participants drafted action plans to continue advocacy efforts on their campuses.
One student, who asked not to be named, said the training gave her the tools to act.
“Before now, I felt powerless. But today, I know how to organize and who to talk to. I’m not alone.”
The training highlights growing attempts by civil society groups to challenge the conditions that allow harassment to persist in Nigerian schools.
