Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the safety of children and teachers in the state is “non-negotiable,” as his administration ramps up investment to shield schools from criminal attacks.
Speaking 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”, Makinde said recent security challenges across Nigeria have forced stakeholders to rethink how to protect learning spaces.
Represented by the Head of Operations, Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Akin Oyedele, the governor said:
“The protection of children and teachers is non-negotiable amid rising security concerns nationwide. We will ensure no school becomes a soft target for criminal elements.”
Makinde assured that his government is ready to provide both logistics and policy backing to implement resolutions from the seminar.
He called on security agencies, non-state actors, school administrators, and communities to translate the seminar’s outcomes into “tangible results, rapid response, and stronger collaboration with government.
Contributing at the event, the *Oyo State Commandant of NSCDC, Augustine Padonu*, represented by Deputy Commandant *Timothy Patunola*, listed major vulnerabilities in schools across the state.
They include:
– Inadequate perimeter fencing
– Unrestricted access to school premises
– Poor security awareness
– Insufficient emergency preparedness
– Lack of surveillance facilities
– Weak communication channels with security agencies
Also speaking, the *Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola*, represented by Permanent Secretary *Mrs. Bamidele Oyinloye*, charged all stakeholders to take ownership of safety both “outside and inside the school gates.”
The seminar drew NYSDC Area Commanders, regional officers, school administrators, security stakeholders, and development partners from across the state.
The governor’s renewed pledge comes amid growing public anxiety over school abductions and attacks in different parts of the country.