LASG Launches SEAH Policy to Combat Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions

The Lagos State Government has taken a decisive step toward promoting safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environments with the official launch of the Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) Policy for Tertiary Educational Institutions. The policy was formally unveiled by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, at the ASBIFI Event Centre in Ikeja.

The Governor stated that the SEAH Policy is a critical framework designed to significantly strengthen accountability, protect both students and staff, and firmly entrench a "zero tolerance" stance for all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment within the state’s tertiary institutions. He noted that the initiative clearly underscores the present administration’s resolve to ensure that educational institutions remain safe spaces where dignity, respect, and academic excellence can thrive without compromise.

​Championed by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (MWAPA) and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the policy outlines comprehensive guidelines. These include clear reporting and robust response mechanisms, survivor-centred procedures to protect victims, defined institutional responsibilities, and clear sanctions for perpetrators. It also aims to strengthen prevention, awareness, and overall accountability systems across all Lagos State campuses.

​Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, the Commissioner for MWAPA, described the policy as a transformative intervention intended to drive necessary institutional reform and fundamental behavioural change within the educational system. She firmly reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all learners and members of the academic community, stressing that effective implementation and continuous monitoring will remain a paramount priority.

The launch attracted significant participation from key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule; the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), Mrs. Titilola Rhodes-Vivour Adeniyi; representatives from the UNFPA, and heads of various tertiary institutions, demonstrating a unified front against sexual misconduct in schools.