Edo, SafERR reach 95,700, launch Nigeria’s first statewide school safety club

BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Education, has concluded a landmark statewide school safety advocacy campaign in partnership with SafERR Schools, an initiative of the World Safety Organization (Nigeria), reaching more than 95,700 students, teachers and parents across public schools in the state.

The SafERR Schools Edo Advocacy Project 2026, which ran from May 20 to July 3, 2026, covered 38 schools across 19 public institutions, equipping participants with knowledge on safety practices, emergency preparedness and risk prevention aimed at creating safer learning environments.

The Edo State Ministry of Education described the partnership as a significant step towards strengthening school safety and safeguarding the welfare of learners across the state.

“This partnership reflects Edo State’s commitment to protecting our children and building safer learning environments. We commend SafERR Schools (World Safety Organization, Nigeria) for their dedication and professionalism in driving this laudable initiative,” the ministry stated.

The project, implemented with the approval of the Ministry of Education, was coordinated by the SafERR Schools Edo Advocacy Project Team of the World Safety Organization (Nigeria) in collaboration with education stakeholders across the state.

A major milestone recorded during the campaign is the approval for the establishment of a Statewide SafERR Club in Edo State public secondary schools and tertiary institutions, making it the first statewide school safety club initiative of its kind in Nigeria.

According to the organisers, the club will provide a sustainable platform for safety education, peer advocacy, emergency preparedness and student leadership, ensuring that the campaign’s impact extends beyond the advocacy period.

SafERR Schools also expressed appreciation to school heads and administrators who hosted the sensitisation programmes, as well as members of the SafERR Global Ambassadors’ Network, the SafERR Global Volunteers’ Network, sponsors, partners and supporters whose contributions have sustained the initiative since its inception in 2012.

Executive Director of SafERR Global Networks, Dr. Soji Olalokun, described the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-held vision.

“Seeing this vision come alive reminds us why we started. We can now see it, we can walk in it, we can touch it and feel it. We are eternally grateful for God’s grace and pray for more grace upon all stakeholders to continue changing lives and impacting destinies. This is just the beginning. SafERR remains committed to a global movement to ensure no one is left behind by 2030,” he said.

SafERR Schools is a global safety advocacy initiative dedicated to promoting safety awareness, emergency readiness and risk reduction in schools and communities. Since 2012, the organisation has partnered with governments, institutions, volunteers and development partners to foster safer environments for children and young people.