…Says Women still Underrepresented in Leadership
The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN), Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo branch, has been called upon to transform from a passive welfare negotiator into an active enforcement agent for women’s workplace safety, as institutions across Nigeria grapple with a persistent divide between policy and practice.
Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, the Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, made the call during her address as the Guest Speaker at the 2026 International Women’s Day commemoration and workshop organised by SSUCOEN, FCE (Special) Oyo branch, held at the institution.
Speaking under the global theme “Give and Gain,” and the Workshop’s sub-theme of “Rights, Justice and Actions for Women’s Safety at the Workplace,” which aligns with Sustainable Development Goals on decent work, reduced inequalities, and gender equality, Prof. Oduwole emphasised that workplace safety for women extends beyond physical protection to encompass psychological and emotional well-being.
“The most pressing problem of the contemporary debate is the critical issue that directly impacts our welfare and performance as employees,” Prof. Oduwole stated. “A right that is defined on paper, but not implemented, is a denied right.”
Speaking further, she said that while Nigeria possesses robust legal frameworks including the 1999 Constitution, the Labour Act, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, she noted a troubling gap between legal provisions and lived realities. She cited existing studies indicating that workplace harassment, gender discrimination, and unbalanced opportunities continue to persist across Nigerian institutions.
“Women are still underrepresented in leadership, covert and unfair discrimination persists, and there is a lack of proper processes to resolve complaints,” she said. “Such obstacles do not only demoralise individual health but also institutional performance and integrity.”
Prof. Oduwole positioned SSUCOEN as a critical institutional actor with the mandate to ensure that legal frameworks are upheld through active monitoring, documentation of violations, and holding management accountable. She stressed that the union must position itself as a secure and trustworthy partner for vulnerable members, particularly women who may fear stigmatisation or retaliation when reporting abuse.
The Vice-Chancellor identified urgent priorities including the establishment of safe and confidential reporting systems, implementation of gender-sensitive policies across recruitment and promotion processes, and ongoing sensitisation programmes on gender equality and professional ethics.
Drawing on ethical frameworks ranging from Immanuel Kant’s deontological perspective to Carol Gilligan’s ethics of care, Prof. Oduwole argued that women’s safety is not merely a legal obligation but “an indicator of institutional integrity.”
She challenged attendees to treat the workshop as a critical moment of transition between intention and implementation, urging the union to champion reforms that would create workplaces where rights are safeguarded and justice is assured.
She concluded her presentation saying that, “In protecting women, we are not only fulfilling a moral and legal duty, we are reinforcing the very base of our academic community and guaranteeing its future.”
The International Women’s Day commemoration brought together dignitaries such as the former Speaker, Oyi State House of Assembly and former representative, Oyi Central Senatorial District, Senator Mosurat Sunmonu; Dr. Nihinlola Dosumu, Rector, Federal School of Survey, Oyo and Mrs. Olubunmi Asunmo, Registrar, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; staff and union members to deliberate on strategies for advancing gender equality and workplace justice within Nigeria’s educational institutions.
In the Vice-Chancellor’s entourage were, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Afolake Olanbiwonninu; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Olukayode Binuyo; the University Librarian, Dr. Bosede Ajiboye; Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. Cornelius Ojo and other top officers of the University.
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