The Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Prof Charles Esimone has lamented his battle with randy lecturers, who are opposed to him installing close circuit cameras on Campus.
Esimone said he is using the system to battle sexual harassment among randy lecturers and instilling discipline among staff and students of the institution.
The VC, who spoke with reporters in Awka, Anambra State, said “We intend to install the cameras in staff offices, but we are meeting oppositions. Some don’t want it, but I’m going to insist because of the several cases of sexual harassments here and there.
“The only way you can prove your innocence is to allow the camera in your office. This is one of the last things I’ll like to do. If they want to crucify me, so be it. But I will insist, because nobody has privacy in a public office. They can mount 20 in my office, I wouldn’t mind”.
Esimone, who disclosed that two lecturers had been expelled for sexually harassing their female students, lamented that lack of evidence was frustrating the cases.
He said of the expelled lecturers, “One from the Faculty of Law and the other from Pharmacy faculty. We don’t have many of them because of lack of evidence, because the students are afraid of reporting such cases.
“I have called the students’ union government executive and told them not to be afraid of intimidation when the lives and dignity of their members are in danger. That is why the cameras are needed. If only people will come up with verifiable evidence, those caught will be shown the exit door immediately”.
He noted that his administration had digitized the university in all aspects, ranging from e-learning management system for large classes for regular students, sandwich and Continuous Education Programme.
The VC added that the university authorities under him, equally built an app dedicated for students to appraise their lecturers.
“It is a short questionnaire filled anonymously. For now, we don’t intend to use it to punish the lecturers. But eventually, it will be used for their assessment. We had earlier installed CCTV cameras in the entire university in terms of security.
“But we had the challenge of sabotage. Some were removed. But we are trying to reactivate them.
“The good news is that we got an endowment from an alumnus of this institution, Onyedika, who is graciously donating 1,060 cameras to us. He has already installed about 50 of them in strategic areas, including lecture halls which will assist us detect exam malpractices. Lecturers are not using them, but we are talking with ICT officers to ensure they are all activated so we can have evidence”, he said.
