Ondo launches protection committee to safeguard schoolchildren

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has inaugurated a 17-member steering committee to drive the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme, a Federal Government initiative aimed at protecting students, teachers and educational facilities from security threats.

The committee was inaugurated at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Akure and comprises representatives of security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, as well as the Parents-Teachers Association.

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, said the move was necessitated by increasing security concerns affecting schools and the need to safeguard the future of education in the state.

Ajibefun, who chairs the committee, charged members to provide strategic direction and ensure effective collaboration among stakeholders involved in school safety.

He said the committee was established to strengthen measures aimed at preventing attacks, kidnappings and other security threats within educational institutions across the state.

The commissioner stressed that achieving the objectives of the programme would require the active participation of all stakeholders, noting that security remains a collective responsibility. He urged also members to carry out their duties with dedication, integrity and commitment, adding that their role would be crucial in supporting the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry and secretary of the committee, Dr Akindele Ige, said recent security incidents had underscored the need for coordinated efforts to protect schools.

He added that the committee had proposed immediate measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras, construction of perimeter fences around schools and the provision of emergency security hotlines, particularly for institutions in remote and border communities.