Makinde reaffirms commitment to safe schools in Oyo
By Taiwo Scholarstica
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that schools across the state remain safe for students and teachers.
Makinde made the commitment on Wednesday during a one-day seminar organised to discuss safety, security and child protection in educational institutions across the state.
The seminar was held under the theme, “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions.”
Represented by the Head of Operations, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, the governor said the safety of children and teachers remained a priority for his administration amid growing security concerns across the country.
“The protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable amid rising security concerns nationwide,” the governor said.
Makinde said his administration was taking steps to strengthen security around schools and prevent educational institutions from becoming vulnerable to criminal activities.
He noted that the security challenges being experienced in different parts of the country had made it necessary for stakeholders to review existing measures and develop better strategies for protecting children and their learning environments.
The governor also expressed his administration’s willingness to provide the necessary logistics and policy support required to implement the recommendations from the seminar.
He called on security agencies, non-state actors, school authorities and communities to work together to ensure that the resolutions reached at the meeting translated into practical measures, faster responses and improved cooperation with government.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bamidele Oyinloye, urged all stakeholders to take responsibility for school safety.
She said efforts to protect schools must cover both the areas within school premises and the environments surrounding them.
The Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Augustine Padonu, represented by Deputy Commandant Timothy Patunola, identified several security gaps affecting schools.
They included poor perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school premises, inadequate security awareness, weak emergency preparedness, limited surveillance equipment and poor communication between schools and security agencies.
The event was attended by NYSC Area Commanders, regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders and development partners from across Oyo State.