Oyo govt reaffirms commitment to school safety amid security concerns

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding schools across the state, declaring that the safety of pupils, students and teachers remains a top priority despite growing security concerns in the country.

Governor Seyi Makinde made the declaration on Tuesday at a one-day seminar on school safety organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, at the Secretariat, Ibadan.

The seminar, themed “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions”, brought together school administrators, security agencies, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving security in educational institutions.

Represented by the Head of Operations of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Mr Akin Oyedele, Governor Makinde said his administration was making significant investments to ensure that schools do not become easy targets for criminal elements.

According to him, “The protection of our children and teachers is non-negotiable. Our administration is investing heavily to ensure that no school in Oyo State becomes a soft target for criminal elements.”

The governor noted that recent security challenges across Nigeria had underscored the need for stakeholders to rethink existing security measures and develop more effective strategies to protect schools.

“We are ready to provide the logistics and policy support required to implement the resolutions reached at this seminar. I urge security agencies, school authorities, communities and other stakeholders to translate today’s discussions into concrete actions that will strengthen rapid-response mechanisms and deepen collaboration with the government,” he said.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Bamidele Oyinloye, stressed that school safety was a collective responsibility.

She said, “Every stakeholder has a role to play in protecting our schools. Safety must be addressed both within and outside the school gates because learning can only thrive in a secure environment.”

Also speaking, the Oyo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Augustine Padonu, represented by Deputy Commandant Timothy Patunola, identified major security vulnerabilities affecting schools across the state.

He listed inadequate perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school premises, poor security awareness, inadequate emergency preparedness, a lack of surveillance facilities and weak communication channels with security agencies as common challenges requiring urgent attention.

Patunola urged school administrators to strengthen security measures and establish closer collaboration with relevant security agencies to improve emergency response and protect lives and property.

The seminar was attended by NSCDC Area Commanders and regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders and development partners from across Oyo State.