ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The University of Calabar on Friday banned the practice of “water ritual’’ in the school.
The school management described the ritual practice as unwholesome and not academic.
It as learned that in the “water ritual’’, students pour water sporadically on matriculating and graduating students as an “initiation rite’’.
The varsity’s Registrar, Mr. Gabriel Egbe, stated in Calabar, the State capital, that the vice-chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, ordered the cessation of the practice.
Prof Obi noted that the practice was no longer acceptable, adding that it constituted rights abuses.
She said: “The vice-chancellor has directed that the practice be discontinued against the backdrop of a viral video in which a female student was subjected to indignity at the last matriculation.
“In the video clip, a group of young men indulged in inhumane and barbaric action.
“Besides the official discontinuance of the unacceptable act, a committee has been set put to investigate the ugly act meted on the female student and those found culpable will be sanctioned appropriately.
“The Acting Chief Security Officer, retired Capt. Austin Bisong, and other relevant officers in the university have been tasked to ensure that the ugly episode never occurs again,’’ Egbe stated.
NAN