By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Anchor University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Bandele has reiterated in strong terms, that the school management does not cover up any form of indecent behaviour within its campus, saying the institution upholds ethical standard of discipline within the school system.
Bandele, in his reaction to the recent tweet by one of the students, Evangel Ganiyu, who claimed an artisan that came to work in the female hostel in the school allegedly sneaked to her room attempting to assault her sexually while asleep.
The head of the school management condemned this despicable act in its entirety, assuring that the suspect who is already in the police net at Ayobo Police Station, would have to prove his innocence at the court of law.
The university don dismissed the needless insinuation making round that the school authority might want to sweep the matter under the carpet, stressing that the school is a responsible entity being run with the fear of God, in compliance with laws of the land.
He re-assured that the school is built on the foundation of holiness, and it cannot compromise this standard under whatever guise or reason, even all the students could testify to this.
“Let me put the record straight here. The suspect, in the first place is not a staff of the school but an artisan who was engaged to work in the Female Hostel. It was his boss that brought him to work with him in the school premises because renovation work is ongoing there.
“It sounds somehow for anybody to say that the school authority would shield a suspect, who allegedly committed a heinous crime, he expressed utter surprise.
“I make bold to state clearly that a matter of this nature that involves Evangel Ganiyu has never been brought to my attention before; until now.
“I will also encourage any of the students including Evangel who claimed to have experienced such assault in the past to speak up for proper investigation by the school authority.
Once, such case is made official, we shall investigate diligently and take appropriate action thereafter, he promised.
He continued: “When the Female Hall supervisor, Mrs Grace Abodunde brought the student to my office, I needed to ask some pertinent questions to confirm the veracity of her claims before the matter was reported at the police station in Ayobo.
At the time of investigation, Evangel was not showing sign of seriousness and I needed to scold her to be serious so that we can get to the root of the matter.
This exactly was what we did. And as we speak, the matter is being handled by the police”, he explained.
The vice chancellor recalled that in bid to maintain discipline within the system, the management put in place compulsory pregnancy test for all our female students at the point of admission.
“And at random, we carry out drug test among our students to ensure that the students are free from drug related issues. We are always ready to wield the big sticks if any student is found wanting.
“Anchor university is not a haven for unserious students but a place to mould the youths to actualise their dreams and become responsible adults; and be useful to themselves and the nation in general. That is our commitment, that is our goal by the grace of God”, he disclosed.
Corroborating the vice chancellor’s position, the hall supervisor, Mrs Abodunde also confirmed that this was the first time Evangel would have this kind of experience as a student in this school to the best of her knowledge.
“She has not come to me before to make a report of this nature except what happened recently. So, it will be wrong for her to say that the school authority is treating sex harassment with levity. Immediately the matter got to me, and I reported the matter officially, the school authority responded immediately”, she further confirmed.
