By Mercy Gadia
Save the Children has commended the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad (SPS) for its commitment to school safety, community protection and rapid response mechanisms across the country.
The commendation was made during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, SPS, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, by the Country Director of Save the Children, Duncan Harvey, and members of his senior management team.
The visit, which was conducted on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, formed part of ongoing collaboration to strengthen the implementation of the Safe School Declaration and improve coordinated security measures for the protection of education in Nigeria.
Harvey said Nigeria has continued to gain global recognition for its Safe Schools implementation, noting that the Nigeria Police SPS has played a key role in that achievement.
“Nigeria has been recognised globally as a leader in Safe Schools implementation. The Schools Protection Squad has been instrumental in advancing this progress and ensuring children learn in safe environments,” he said.
He disclosed that Save the Children is supporting the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) to host a high-level state-to-state exchange visit, where foreign delegates will understudy Nigeria’s Safe Schools model.
He added that the Nigeria Police SPS would play a central role in showcasing its operational framework and field-level impact during the visit.
Harvey also revealed that Norway has expressed interest in Nigeria’s progress on Safe Schools following the Fifth International Safe Schools Declaration Conference held in Kenya.
“The State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Norway and the CEO of Save the Children Norway are planning a visit to Nigeria to understudy the work being done by the Schools Protection Squad,” he added.
In his response, CP Abayomi Shogunle appreciated the visit and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening school protection nationwide.
“We remain committed to improving school security, strengthening community safety, and deepening collaboration with all education stakeholders,” he said.
Save the Children, which operates in over 120 countries, has been active in Nigeria since 2001, focusing on child protection, health, resilience building, Safe Schools programming and humanitarian response in emergencies. It currently operates in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring that schools across the country remain safe, secure and conducive for learning.