For more than a decade, the tragic consequences of violence in Nigeria’s Education sector has resulted in a crisis, which has further consequences for the future of the country’s education system. Professor Ahmed Salisu Garba, the Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, announced that since 2009, there have been more than 1,400 school attacks in Nigeria, and more than 2,295 teachers have been killed. He stated these numbers in a presentation during the public hearing on the Bauchi State Schools Safety, Security and Violence-Free Bill, 2024.
Garba, whose speech entitled “Justifying Need For Legal Justification On School Safety In Bauchi State And Nigeria At Large,” emphasized the increasing need for a meaningful legal framework to protect schools from ongoing violence. He pointed out that the threat to Nigerian educational institutions is not a distant hypothetical issue; it is a serious, urgent threat that needs to be addressed. Garba provided horrific examples such as the children kidnapped from the Chibok school in 2014, when over 276 were held victimized. It generated considerable global publicity, but only some have been returned to their families.
VC warns school attacks threaten Nigeria’s future, calls for action.
The Epidemic adds weight to his argument, as another incident just four years later in 2018, 110 girls were taken from Dapchi School, and some still unaccounted for today. Additionally, in December of 2020, more than 300 boys were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara in Katsina State. The destruction of schools and the loss of teachers have led to hundreds of schools being closed, especially in Northern Nigeria where Insecurity is at its highest.
Also, the VC shared that over 10 million children are now out of school, a situation affecting instability across communities, causing disruption, separating families, and taking an entire generation’s future. He warned that the long-term aftermath of these attacks would be very detrimental to Nigeria’s socio-economic progress. Without immediate and deliberate action, the education sector of Nigeria would be permanently damaged. He called for the adoption of the Safe Schools Declaration, which is a legal backstop that Nigeria has signed on to. Its importance was detailed because safety commitments will move from political platitudes to legal commitments to action, with outlined responsibilities and consequences for non-action.
Bauchi bill aims to secure schools, boost Nigeria’s education.
This includes the development of a School Security Fund to allocate resources to safety measures- physical structures, security personnel on site when needed, and preparedness for emergencies. The Bill includes some procedures to monitor, report and audit school safety procedures, holding all responsible parties accountable. The professor urged the State House of Assembly and all stakeholders to approach this challenge with commitment and determination. He stated that the passage of the Bauchi State Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Bill 2024 would send a collective and significant message: violence and fear do not have the power to control the future of the children of Nigeria.
Instead, stakeholders are determined to create a safe environment for all children to learn, grow, and flourish. And in this way we can begin to build more trust in Nigeria’s educational environments that will benefit the future of Nigeria’s children. A secure school system can help lower the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which is already at an alarming rate. Providing a safe learning environment raises attendance, which encourages more children, in particular girls and those in regions prone to conflict, to attend school without fear. This further promotes greater Literacy levels, as an educated citizenry is a prerequisite for Nigeria’s continued social and economic development. An educated populace is better suited to contribute positively to society, allowing for greater creativity and Economic Growth within the nation.
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Aside from repairing trust in the education system that has been severely undermined from an increasing Culture of terror and violence, school security considers restoring community trust. When parents and community members recognize that there are active safeguards in place to protect students, teachers, and other staff, they are more inclined to advocate for or prioritize education for the children in their care. Renewed community trust of the school system also often culminates in greater community involvement with schools, helping to build partnerships that create value-added approaches to educational practices. Having a secured school system pays dividends in the long run. For instance, it can be argued that a more orderly, secured education for the next generation of students will support Nigeria in becoming a more peaceful and prosperous nation, wherein future generations can grow up safely and productively.