MAKINDE VOWS SAFER SCHOOLS AMID RISING SECURITY CONCERNS

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has restated his administration’s commitment to making schools across the state safe, saying the protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable.

“The protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable amid rising security concerns nationwide,” the governor said.

Makinde stated this on Wednesday during a one-day seminar with the theme: “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions.”

It was organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in conjunction with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Oyo State Command, and held at the Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

Makinde, represented by Head of Operations, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, said his administration was investing heavily to ensure no school became a soft target for criminal elements.

“We will ensure no school becomes a soft target for criminal elements,” Makinde said.

The governor, who noted that recent security challenges across Nigeria made it imperative for stakeholders to rethink and restrategise how to safeguard children and their learning spaces, expressed readiness to provide logistics and policy support needed to implement the outcomes.

“Recent security challenges across Nigeria have made it imperative for stakeholders to rethink and restrategise how to safeguard children and their learning spaces,” Makinde said.

He urged security agencies, non-state actors, schools and communities to turn the seminar’s resolutions into tangible results, rapid response, and stronger collaboration with government.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Bamidele Oyinloye, charged every stakeholder to be involved, noting that safety must be addressed both outside and inside the school gates.

Also speaking, Oyo State Commandant, NSCDC, Augustine Padonu, represented by the Deputy Commandant, Timothy Patunola, listed inadequate perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school premises, poor security awareness, insufficient emergency preparedness, lack of surveillance facilities, and weak communication channels with security agencies as common vulnerabilities in schools.

In attendance at the event were NSCDC area commanders, regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders, and development partners from across the state.