UNICEF in collaboration with other stakeholders including University of Maiduguri and Unique Care and Support Foundation (CASFOD) have organized a symposium to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls.
Speaking at a panel discussion on present security situation of schools in the state at the event, stakeholders expressed satisfaction with measures taken to ensure safety of children in public schools in Borno since the Chibok incident in 2014.
In his remarks on behalf of members of State Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Mallam Aliyu Mohammed, said things have improved in line with safe school initiative but more needed to be done by all stakeholders to improve and sustain the tempo.
According to him, the improved measures taken by all stakeholders led to the reopening of schools including the affected school in Chibok.
Mohammed, who is the public relations office of SBMCs, reiterated the commitment of the committees which comprised religious and traditional rulers to continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure safety of schools.
He however raised concern over cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as another menace facing schools that is threatening Girl-Child education, and urged for a united front by all to tackle GBV.
Also contributing to the dialogue, the Deputy Speaker of Children Parliament, Ibrahim Sunoma, said there was remarkable improvement in security of schools but the development should not be an excuse to relax.
Sunoma said that the issue of security should not be limited to incidents of abduction alone but also the environment where schools are sited.
“We have come a long way and there should be no room for complacency, ” Sunoma said.
In his contribution, the Education Specialist in UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Dr Adamu Bulama, stressed the need to continue to improve by ensuring that all critical partners are allowed to play their roles for maximum results.
Bulama said that UNICEF would increase the level of advocacy among others to ensure that all stakeholders are carried along.
He also spoke on the need for good policies and their effective implementation towards the safety of schools.
According to him, all stakeholders including teachers and students need to know what is expected of them or what to do during emergencies.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Centre for Advocacy, Transparency, and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), urged stakeholders at the event to not only reflect on the Chibok incident but to come up with solutions on how to safeguard education that is now facing threat from violent conflicts.
