Ondo State Takes Proactive Steps to Ensure Students' Safety

The Ondo State Government has established a steering committee to oversee the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme, a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, teachers, and educational infrastructure from violent attacks and kidnappings. According to the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, the committee's primary objective is to provide strategic direction and enhance coordination among stakeholders to prevent security threats in educational institutions. The committee comprises representatives from various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Amotekun Corps, as well as religious and traditional leaders, and the Parents-Teachers Association. During the committee's inauguration in Akure, Ajibefun emphasized the importance of active participation from all stakeholders, stating that 'security is a shared responsibility requiring vigilance, preparedness, resilience, and collective action.' He charged the committee members to discharge their duties with diligence, commitment, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose. The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akindele Ige, noted that the establishment of the committee is a direct response to the growing security threats targeting schools, emphasizing that 'no meaningful teaching can take place where there is fear, and no effective learning can occur where there is insecurity.'