AKURE, Nigeria — The Ondo State Government has inaugurated a steering committee to implement the Safe Schools Programme, part of a nationwide initiative designed to protect students, teachers, and school infrastructure from kidnappings and violent attacks.
At Tuesday’s ceremony in Akure, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Igbekele Ajibefun, who chairs the committee, said the body would provide strategic direction and coordinate efforts among stakeholders. Members include representatives of the Nigerian Army, Police, Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun security outfit, religious and traditional leaders, and the Parents-Teachers Association.
“You are to support the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme and strengthen mechanisms to prevent security threats in the educational institutions of the state,” Ajibefun told the committee. He stressed that security is a shared responsibility requiring vigilance, resilience, and collective action.
Permanent Secretary Akindele Ige, who serves as secretary of the committee, said the move was a direct response to growing threats targeting schools. “No meaningful teaching can take place where there is fear, and no effective learning can occur where there is insecurity,” he said.
The Safe Schools Initiative was first launched by the Federal Government in 2014 after Boko Haram’s abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State. It has since been adopted by states across Nigeria to curb attacks on schools, particularly in regions vulnerable to banditry and insurgency.
On social media, many parents welcomed the Ondo government’s action, calling it “timely” and “long overdue.” Others expressed skepticism, questioning whether the committee would move beyond rhetoric to real protection.
Social commentators noted that the inclusion of security agencies and community leaders could help build trust, but warned that implementation must be transparent and consistent. Education bodies praised the initiative, saying it could restore confidence in public schools and reduce the growing trend of parents moving children to private institutions for safety.
Political voices were divided: supporters of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration hailed the committee as proof of its commitment to education and security, while critics argued that the state must also address root causes of insecurity such as poverty and unemployment.
For many teachers and students, the hope is simple — that classrooms can once again be places of learning without fear.
