The Police Command in Osun on Monday organised a stakeholder forum on ‘security of school’ as part of its Safe School programme.
By Olajide Idowu
The Police Command in Osun on Monday organised a stakeholder forum on ‘security of school’ as part of its Safe School programme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day forum was themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities In The Protection of Education.”
Mr Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad, Abuja, said attacks on schools in recent years had led to kidnapping of students, schools closure and increasing in out of school children.
Shogunle said the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools in a 2021 report, indicated that from 2012 to 2016, more than 600 teachers were killed in attacks on schools, while over 19,000 were displaced.
He said in responding to this challenges, the Nigerian Government, on Dec. 31, 2019, signed the ‘Safe School Declaration Document’ alongside 118 other countries to ensure Nigeria has a safer and more secured learning environment.
“To demonstrate it’s resolve to addressing these challenges, the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with stakeholders conveyed a high-level forum on April 20, 2021 to address the menace and creating innovative sources of funding, through the three tiers of government,” he stated.
He said the Federal Government in 2024 officially informed Police to launch the Safe School Initiative to enable children affected by conflicts and insecurity to continue with their education unhindered.
He said that the forum aligned with the ‘National Plan on Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria’, noting that “the plan has a national investment response aimed at protecting schools, learners, teachers and non-teaching staff from attack.”
Shogunle added that the implementation of the Safe School plan is in phases, with Osun State being one of pilot states.
In his address, the Osun Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, said that the two-day forum was to enhance safety and protection of schools in the state.
Gotan said though Osun is ranked as one of the safest states in Nigeria, there are pockets of crisis in the schools and that the forum will look at ways to tackle them.
Gov. Ademola Adeleke in his remarks, said education remains a top priority and that his administration will key into the implementation of the Safe School programme.
Adeleke, who was represented by his Deputy, Kola Adewusi, charged the police to deploy technology to ensure students are safe within their schools.
Adeleke reiterated the state government’s committing to safe, sound and future oriented education for the students. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)