The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo Command, has partnered with the Edo Ministry of Education and the Mobile Foundation for Health, Security and Rehabilitation (MHRS) to promote child protection, adolescent wellness and security awareness in secondary schools across the state.
The partnership was announced at a Schools Safety and Advocacy Workshop held on Wednesday in Benin. The event was themed “Building Safer Schools, Child Protection, Wellness and Security Awareness.”
The workshop brought together security officials, government representatives, teachers, students and other stakeholders to discuss practical measures aimed at preventing abuse, violence, exploitation and security threats within school environments.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Commandant Abdulkareem Olanrewaju, Head of Operations of the NSCDC in Edo, stressed that school safety requires collective responsibility among government agencies, school authorities, parents, communities and security outfits.
In his address titled “School Advocacy and Sensitization on Child Protection, Prevention and Security Awareness,” Olanrewaju described children as valuable assets whose safety, education and future must be deliberately protected. He identified abuse, bullying, trafficking, violence and exploitation as major threats that demand preventive action, early reporting and coordinated responses.
The NSCDC official particularly emphasised the need to protect the girl-child. He urged students to understand their rights, recognise unsafe situations and promptly report any threats to trusted adults or relevant authorities.
Olanrewaju reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to protecting lives and property through its Safe Schools initiatives, continuous security sensitisation, crime prevention strategies and collaboration with stakeholders. He advised school administrators, teachers, parents and students to report suspicious activities and provide timely information to security agencies.
“Students are advised to avoid negative influences, respect school authorities and speak out against abuse, intimidation, threats or suspicious activities,” he said.
He commended the NSCDC Safe Schools Department, the Ministry of Education and other partners for supporting the initiative and called for the collaboration to be sustained beyond the one-day workshop.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Enodolomwanyi Otamere, praised the organisers for prioritising students’ safety and welfare. He urged teachers and students to apply the lessons from the workshop to promote responsible behaviour, personal safety, mutual respect and security awareness both in schools and in their communities.
The workshop featured presentations on adolescent sexual and reproductive health, security awareness and child protection. Miss Kemi Oluwademmy, speaking on “My Body, My Right: Understanding Sexual and Reproductive Health for Adolescents,” highlighted the importance of equipping young people with accurate knowledge to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
CSC Nicolas Oko, in his presentation on security safety, identified potential threats facing students and outlined preventive measures that schools and communities can adopt. SC Esther Oladimeji also stressed the need to safeguard children from abuse, exploitation and other forms of harm.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants sought clarification on issues relating to child protection, adolescent wellness and overall school security.
