The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has called for collective measures among security agencies, community members and school managers to secure schools against security challenges.
Musa made the call on Thursday at a safe school workshop with the theme ”Providing a Secure and Safe Learning Environment for Advancement of National Development” organised by 8 Division of Nigerian Army Sokoto.
He said the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to do all within their strength to ensure the protection of children, in collaboration with other security agencies.
He noted that a secured and better environment must be provided for Nigerian children to be able to acquire education without fear of criminals.
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In his address, Chief of Defence Training and Operations Nigerian Army Headquarters, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, said the workshop was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme and Federal Government’s policy on safe, secure and violent-free schools initiative.
Onumajuru noted that the workshop became imperative in view of the incessant attacks on schools across Nigeria since 2014.
He said the event was prepared as a step-down training with participants who would educate others in their formations, educational cycles and departments in order to expand the scope of knowledge and experiences learnt.
According to him, the workshop was aimed at sensitising troops on the rudiments of inter-agency collaboration to protect schools against attacks.
”It was an avenue to provide key enablers required to reach the locations of some of the schools, such as motorcycles and communication gadgets, so as to respond rapidly when the need arises.
”Education is the pillar of the society’s development that needed to be prioritised and ensure collective strategies to safeguard the learning environment for future generations, ” Onumajuru said.
In his welcome address, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajeso called for collaborative efforts among all the stakeholders to secure schools across the state.
