FG promises improved security for learning

The Federal Government on Tuesday promised improved security to guarantee safe learning environment.

The government also expressed optimism that the country would rise above her current security challenges and return to an era of safe atmosphere for learning.

Chief Edem Duke, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, said this in Abuja at a two-day national workshop on security awareness for public and private schools in the FCT.

Duke, who was represented by the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the ministry, Mr Stephen Ikata, described the unprecedented attacks on schools by insurgents as a heinous crime.

“It is my conviction that with concerted efforts and energy on reorienting the Nigeria public; very soon we will collectively make our schools safer for learning,’’ he said.

He urged teachers, parents and children to increase their level of vigilance to beef up the security in their various domains.

“The safe school initiative that was recently launched had already received a boost of $10 million from the United Nations.

“The amount is to build a fund is targeted at providing special security for about 500 schools to ensure that the education of our children is not hindered in any way," he said.

Earlier, the Director-General of the NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, said that to achieve this goal, the agency had commenced awareness campaign in local languages through the NOA Radio.

The campaign is also being carried out through workshops, TV commercials, Campus Focus, Community Dialogue, Interfaith Forum, Community Theatre and Bulk Text Messaging.

Omeri called on stakeholders to see themselves as partners with security agencies and government in the task of ensuring safe school environment for children.

The FCTA Secretary for Education, Malam Kabir Usman, said that lack of education had been blamed as the major cause of insurgency in the country.

According to him, it is quite sad that our country is currently grappling with serious security challenges targeted at the very heart of our education system.

“There are over 25,000 children wandering around our streets, with the FCT having the second lowest number of out of school children in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Usman said it was imperative to encourage all children to go to school and do so un-hindered. (NAN)