Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to ensure schools across the state remain secure, stressing that the safety of pupils and teachers cannot be compromised in the face of growing security challenges across the country.
“The protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable amid rising security concerns nationwide,” the governor said.
Makinde made the remarks on Wednesday at a one-day seminar themed “Building Resilient Schools: Strengthening Operational Capacity for Safety, Security and Child Protection in Oyo State Educational Institutions.”
Represented by the Head of Operations of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, the governor said the state government is making significant investments to prevent schools from becoming vulnerable to criminal activities.
“We will ensure no school becomes a soft target for criminal elements,” Makinde said.
He observed that the increasing security threats across Nigeria have made it necessary for relevant stakeholders to review and strengthen strategies aimed at protecting children and educational environments.
“Recent security challenges across Nigeria have made it imperative for stakeholders to rethink and restrategise how to safeguard children and their learning spaces,” Makinde said, expressing readiness to provide logistics and policy support needed to implement the outcomes.
Makinde also called on security agencies, non-state actors, school authorities, and host communities to translate the seminar’s resolutions into practical actions through improved collaboration, rapid response mechanisms, and stronger partnerships with the government.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye, urged all stakeholders to play active roles in ensuring school safety, noting that security concerns must be addressed both within and outside school premises.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Augustine Padonu, represented by Deputy Commandant Timothy Patunola, identified common security gaps in schools, including inadequate perimeter fencing, unrestricted access to school compounds, poor security awareness, insufficient emergency preparedness, lack of surveillance facilities, and weak communication with security agencies.
The seminar was attended by NSCDC Area Commanders, regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders, and development partners from across Oyo State.