Ondo sets up committee for safe schools programme

The Ondo State Government has inaugurated a steering committee for the Safe Schools Programme as part of efforts to protect students and educational institutions from kidnapping and other security threats.

The Safe Schools Initiative is a Federal Government programme aimed at safeguarding students, teachers and school infrastructure from violence, abductions and other forms of attacks.

Inaugurating the committee in Akure on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, said the committee was established to provide strategic direction and strengthen coordination among stakeholders on school safety.

According to him, the committee comprises representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Amotekun Corps, religious and traditional leaders, and the Parents-Teachers Association.

Ajibefun, who chairs the committee, charged members to support the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme and strengthen mechanisms for preventing security threats in schools across the state.

He stressed that the success of the initiative depends on the active participation of all stakeholders, noting that security is a shared responsibility that requires vigilance, preparedness, resilience and collective action.

The commissioner urged members to discharge their duties with diligence, commitment, integrity and a strong sense of purpose.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and secretary of the committee, Akindele Ige, said the establishment of the committee was a direct response to growing security threats targeting schools.

He noted that recent attacks on educational institutions underscored the need for deliberate, coordinated and sustained efforts to protect students, teachers and school facilities across the state.

“No meaningful teaching can take place where there is fear, and no effective learning can occur where there is insecurity,” Ige said.