By Miriam Humbe, Abuja
The Commandant General (CG), of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, hosted the Norwegian Safe Schools team on Thursday in Abuja.
The CG was concerned that a vulnerability survey conducted by the Corps in 2021 revealed that, over 58,967 schools were without perimeter fencing or presence of any security apparatus.
The CG advocated for the sustenance of western education in Nigeria, saying that it was a panacea to growth and development.
The team was led by the Senior Adviser, Save the children Norway, Mrs Samar Albarghouthi at the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Center (NSSRCC), domiciled at the Corps National Headquarters in Abuja.
These were contained in a statement signed up the Corps Director, Public Relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu on Thursday in Abuja.
Dr Audi was represented by the Deputy Commandant General (DCG) in charge of Administration, Zakari Ningi.
He said that, there was need for collaborations and support to ensure the safety of schools and students despite the security challenges in the country.
He said: “No meaningful development can take place where there is insecurity, hence the need for the establishment of the center.
“All the major stakeholders in the safe school programme in Nigeria are working together to represent their respective stakes and ensure the safety of students and teachers”.
He said that the need to sustain education and ensure a conducive environment, necessitated the birth of the center wherein all major stakeholders in the safe school programme in Nigeria were working together to ensure the safety of both learners and teachers.
The Senior Adviser, Norway Safe school, Mrs Samar Albarghouthi pledges support to the Center.
She promised to provide capacity building and mentorship programmes to aid Nigeria’s Safe School Initiative agenda.
Albarghouthi applauded the activities and giant strides achieved by the Center and all stakeholders within its short time of existence.
She said: “The establishment here is one of the best in the world which should be replicated locally and globally”.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC Commander of the Center, Dr Tersoo Shaapera, said that so much efforts had been put in by major stakeholders to ensure the functionality of the Center under the President Buhari’s administration.
Shaapera said that the key objective of the Center was to promote proactive intelligence for enhanced prevention of attacks on schools through commitment and practice saying, “prevention is better than cure”.
