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 pupils, students and teachers remains a top priority.
Makinde made this known on Wednesday during a one-day seminar titled “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions.”
Represented by the Head of Operations of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, the governor said the state government is investing in measures to prevent schools from becoming targets for criminal activities.
He noted that the growing security challenges across the country have made it necessary for stakeholders to strengthen strategies for protecting children and educational institutions.
Makinde also pledged to provide the logistics and policy support needed to implement recommendations from the seminar and called on security agencies, school administrators, communities and other stakeholders to work together to improve school safety and emergency response.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye, urged all stakeholders to play active roles in safeguarding schools, stressing that security must be addressed both within and outside school premises.
Also, the Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Augustine Padonu, represented by Deputy Commandant Timothy Patunola, identified inadequate perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school compounds, poor security awareness, weak emergency preparedness, lack of surveillance facilities and poor communication with security agencies as major security gaps in schools.
The seminar was attended by NSCDC area commanders, school administrators, security stakeholders and development partners from across Oyo State.
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