By Olukayode Idowu
A global independent leading organisation working for the rights and welfare of children over 100 years, known as Save the Children International (SCI), has appreciated government’s commitment in the protection of schools in Nigeria and pledged its support to guarantee conducive and safe learning environment for children in the country.
Mavis Bondrik and Pedro Melo of the Save the Children Norway, who spoke during a courtesy visit on the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi said they were impressed with what they saw at National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, hosted by the Corps.
The duo who were received by the Commandant General at the centre said, “we are impressed and very grateful. We appreciate government’s commitment and we are willing to support the centre in any capacity building training.”
According to them, their walking visit to the centre had reinforced their beliefs in the information they got on the NSSRCC and government’s willingness and support.
Responding, the Commandant General thanked Musa Badar of the Save the Children Nigeria office for his support and guide which led to the visit by two of his colleagues from the Save the Children Norway office.
He appreciated the federal government for its determination in the implementation of safe Schools Project demonstrated through funding and promised that the Corps as a lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and Infrastructure will not leave any stone unturned for the success of the project.
Audi assured that the Corps values support from collaborators as well and specifically promised that any support received from SCI will be properly harnessed to enable the centre deliver on its objective of creating safer schools in Nigeria.
The Commandant General said that all supports will be judiciously used, adding that his administration which is determined to carryout the mandate of the Corps is working in synergy with other sister agencies to ensure security of schools and host communities.
The NSCDC helmsman who hosted the duo in the presence of 92 participants mainly instructors during their training workshop with the theme, “building capacities for safe schools instructors” charged them to go back and impact positively on their lieutenants towards success of the safe Schools Project.
He reminded them to adopt the strategy of collaboration, cooperation and coordination as they perform their field work.
In an address of welcome, Commander of the centre, CSC Tersoo Shaapera, PhD, said the centre which was established on 13th February, 2023, signified the full and official implementation of the Safe Schools Project in Nigeria.
The Commander highlighted some of the functions of the centre to include receive complaints and refer for appropriate interventions and respond to distress calls from schools through deployment of kinetic and non-kinetic measures and engage services of military and state security, and joint task force already operating among others.
