Civil Defence Partners With Ministry On Safe School Initiative In Anambra

The Anambra State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Edwin Osuala, has partnered with the State Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh on a safe school initiative.

They both entered into the partnership when Commandant Osuala officially visited the Ministry on Tuesday.

According to the statement released by DSC Okadigbo Edwin, the command’s Public Relations Officer, this is in furtherance of efforts by the Nigerian Government to scale up surveillance and protect school children through the successful launch of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, domiciled at the NSCDC Headquarters Abuja.

It is also to establish a school safety and security response team (SSSRT), in all schools across the country.

Commandant Osuala told his host that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has established a National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC), to facilitate joint actions by critical actors to prevent and respond to cases of school attacks and violence.

He implored them to circulate and mandate all schools in the state to register through the website of the safe school, http:/nssrcc.nscdc.gov.ng/ or make use of the emergency line 09169854689 for urgent and prompt attention.

Analysing the steps involved in the launch of the Safe Schools Programme by the Nigerian Government, Commandant Osuala said that “the decision to protect schools nationwide was borne from the government’s resolve to halt the deadly trend of incessant attacks unleashed on innocent pupils, students, teachers and school facilities in the past.”

Responding, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Anambra State Commissioner for Education promised the state Commandant of the Ministry’s collaboration to enhance safety in schools across the state.

The visit ended with the presentation of a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Anambra State from Federal Ministry of Education requesting registration and notification of communication lines for the coordination of Safe School Response.

The State Commandant was accompanied on the visit by DCC Kizito Emaikwu; Head of Administration, DSC Ngozi Okoye; Safe School Commander and DSC Okadigbo Edwin, Public Relations Officer.

Mercy Chukwudiebere