Over 60 students from the University of Lagos were inducted as ambassadors for the Safe School Declaration campaign during a public hearing to mark African Youth Day on 15th July, 2024.
The induction of the students as Ambassadors of safe schools on Wednesday, 17th July, 2024, marks the initial phase of creating awareness among tertiary students about the vulnerability of schools and the necessity for legal frameworks and government resources to support systems that will make schools more secure.
The event took place at the Nigeria Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.
During the public hearing, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, highlighted the importance of the collaboration between students, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP, among other groups, including the United Nations Democracy Fund, UNDEF.
She informed students from LASUED, LASU, LASUTECH, and other schools present at the public hearing that the safety and security of schools require comprehensive interventions.
She posited, “Everywhere, nobody in the world can tell that he or she is not related or connected to school. It’s either you have a grandchild in school, have a child in school, your mother is in school, your neighbour is in school, or your sister means that the school is very important, hence the safety and security of schools become also very important. And that’s why this campaign is quite necessary.”
She emphasised that the campaign aims to prevent and mitigate threats to people, property, education, and the learning environment.
Furthermore, she discussed the challenges faced by schools in Nigeria, such as insecurity, destruction of classrooms, kidnappings, and lack of perimeter fencing.
Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi also shared a recent incident in Kaduna where government intervention was prompted due to advocacy on safe schools. She however stressed the need for more initiatives to ensure the safety of other schools.
Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Unilag, commended the initiative, acknowledging the risks surrounding schools in the country.
She expressed support for the safety ambassadors and highlighted the need for collaboration with other stakeholders.
Additionally, Dr. Atsenuwa advocated for a long-term strategy to prevent insecurity, emphasising that while there are immediate interventions for safety, the focus should be on preventing insecurity in the long run.
The speakers discussed the importance of long-term solutions for school safety, with hope for a future where the barriers put up today will no longer be necessary as safety becomes a fundamental part of society.
According to her, “While we have remedial interventions now to deal with the problem of safety, our long-term strategy should be to prevent insecurity. Because otherwise, every part of our life will be walled off.
“And when we’re behind walls, we will never even see any grass. Because anywhere that has beauty will be shut to you. Because you have to wall off, you have to wall off, you have to wall off.
“And it also comes with its insecurity. If you don’t have a perimeter fence, then you can’t flee from any direction in case of danger. When you have perimeter fencing, you can only go to where the gates are… so looking at our implementation plan, we really must endeavour to have short-term.
She however emphasised the need for long-term solution to school safety, thus, “I look forward to the day and I pray it happens in my lifetime, when the perimeter fences and walls that we put up today will be brought down. Because we will then, by that time, we will have had safety. And we will not need them, I pray, I pray, I pray, I pray, because that’s the society we’re supposed to have, that’s really what is healthier for the human.”
Others who spoke at the public hearing, included a Communication Expert, Professor Abigail Ogwezzy, Law Lecturer, Professor Ibrahim Obadina, Baale Isaga Adesola Kingdom, Iju-Ojokoro LCDA Ifako-Ijaiy Local Government Area, Baale Dr. Makinde Adesola JP, Chief Education Officer, Education District II, Lagos, Mrs. Adeoye Oluwayemisi, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Police Command, CP. Adegoke FAyoade, represented by ACP Jaiyeoba, LASUBEB Chairman, Hon. Akeem Babatunde Shittu representative.
