By Peter Dada
AKURE– In a strategic move to fortify educational institutions against kidnapping and rising criminal activities, the Ondo State Government has officially inaugurated a state-level steering committee for the Safe Schools Programme.
The initiative, which aligns with the Federal Government’s broader Safe Schools policy, is designed to create a secure environment for students, teachers, and educational infrastructure, shielding them from violence and targeted attacks.
Strategic Oversight and Coordination
During the inauguration ceremony held in Akure on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, who chairs the committee, outlined its core mandate. He explained that the committee is tasked with providing strategic direction and enhancing coordination among key stakeholders to ensure the program's success.
The committee is comprised of a broad coalition of security and community stakeholders, including:
* Representatives of the Nigerian Army
* The Nigeria Police Force
* The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
* The Amotekun Corps
* Traditional and religious leaders
* The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA)
A Call for Collective Vigilance
Addressing the committee members, Commissioner Ajibefun emphasized that security is a collective responsibility that demands vigilance and resilience. He charged the appointees to discharge their duties with "diligence, commitment, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose" to effectively prevent security threats within the state's schools.
The establishment of the committee comes as a proactive response to the increasing security threats targeting schools across the nation. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Secretary of the committee, Akindele Ige, noted that recent security challenges have underscored the necessity for deliberate and sustained intervention to protect the state’s learning environment.
"No meaningful teaching can take place where there is fear, and no effective learning can occur where there is insecurity," Ige stated, highlighting the urgency of the government's intervention.
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