Governor pledges sustained investment in school security as stakeholders meet to strengthen child protection measures.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of schools across the state, declaring that the protection of children and teachers remains non-negotiable amid growing security concerns nationwide.
Governor Makinde made the declaration on Wednesday at a one-day seminar themed, “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions,” held at the Secretariat, Ibadan.
The seminar was 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.
Represented by the Head of Operations, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, the governor said his administration was making significant investments to ensure that schools do not become soft targets for criminal elements.
“The protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable. We will ensure no school becomes a soft target for criminal elements,” Makinde said.
He noted that recent security challenges across the country have made it imperative for stakeholders to rethink and strengthen strategies for safeguarding children and educational institutions.
The governor pledged continued logistics and policy support to implement the resolutions reached at the seminar and urged security agencies, school authorities, communities and non-state actors to translate discussions into concrete actions through rapid response mechanisms and stronger collaboration with government.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye, stressed the need for collective responsibility in ensuring school safety.
She noted that protecting schools requires addressing security concerns both within and outside school premises.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the NSCDC, Oyo State Command, Augustine Padonu, represented by Deputy Commandant Timothy Patunola, identified inadequate perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school premises, poor security awareness, insufficient emergency preparedness, inadequate surveillance facilities and weak communication channels with security agencies as major vulnerabilities confronting schools.
The seminar was attended by NSCDC area commanders, regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders and development partners from across Oyo State.