Safe Schools Initiative: NSCDC adopts sensitisation strategy

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has implemented a nationwide awareness campaign for all stakeholders to prevent kidnappings and other security threats at all levels of Nigeria’s schools.

The corps aimed to embark on nationwide sensitization of stakeholders through the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) under the leadership of Commandant Hammed Abodurin.

The corps public relations officer, Babawale Afolabi said in a statement on Monday, quoting the Commandant of the NSSRCC.

According to him adequate provision of safety and security for schools ranging from primary, post-primary, and tertiary institutions through sensitisation programmes has become a priority.

He added that host communities of Schools would be involved in the action plan.

Afolabi said the Commandant made the remarks when he granted audience to the President of the National Association of University Students at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja.

Abodunrin said the National Safe Schools Project is not for the security agencies alone but also for schools, tertiary institutions, and host communities, describing it as a whole-of-society affair.

He praised the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi for conducting a school vulnerability survey on the assumption of duty, saying the centre was created to address the insecurity in the nation’s educational sector in line with the global safe schools declaration.

He stated further that the NSSRCC was designed to go beyond ensuring smooth learning and teaching process in schools, noting that the mandate of the Safe Schools Initiative covers the prevention of rape, kidnapping, sexual harassment, intimidation, cultism, and bullying, among others.

Abodunrin assured NAUS of his willingness to collaborate with the association in providing security for educational institutions through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to combat all forms of insecurity across the board.

In addition, he said the non-kinetic approach would involve sensitization and awareness programmes which would be in the form of train a trainer workshop at the Institution’s national executive meetings where matters concerning basic security tips and how to identify possible security threats or dangers would be addressed.

He said: “I am optimistic that with these modalities and security strategies put in place, every graduate will be a mini security person.”

The national president of NAUS, Obaji Marshal, earlier in his address said that the great strides of the NSCDC are recognised and appreciated, hence the need for the visit.

He said that the activities of the NSSRCC need wider publicity and the association is willing to partner with the Centre to get students integrated into its programmes.

Citing the recent incident at the Plateau State University, the president pleaded for the deployment of armed personnel of the Corps to tertiary institutions across the country as preventive mechanisms against recurrent such incidents.

• The Nation

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