Nigeria Hosts International Conference on Safe Schools Declaration
By Alabidun Shuaib Abdulrahman
The Nigerian government is hosting the fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration to examine how to create an effective national accountability structure to prevent unlawful attacks on educational institutions, students, and educators.
The Conference provides an opportunity for states, multilateral organizations, and civil society organizations to share their experiences and learn from one another, as well as explain their strategies, progress, and problems in ensuring that all children in conflict have access to safe schooling.
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Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, noted in his keynote address at the pre-conference briefing in Abuja on Thursday that educational institutions have become soft targets for kidnappers who abduct young promising Nigerian students for ransom, discouraging many students from attending school.
“It’s against the background Nigeria signed a letter of endorsement to the Safe Schools Declaration on 8 March, 2018,” he said.
In his welcome address, Mr Musa Istifanus, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence said the pre-conference briefing would raise awareness and highlights the significance of the conference within security agencies and community to better protect education from attacks.
In his words: “Share good practices in implementing key declaration commitment as we present the Participants’ Manual and Trainers’ Guide for Nigerian Security Agencies and Human Rights Organisation to the public.
The Conference is the first to be held on African Continent (Nigeria) and in a country and region severely affected by attacks on education.
The occasion was graced by Ambassador of Norway in Abuja, HE Mr Knut Eiliv Lein, Ambassador of Argentina in Abuja, HE Mr Alejandro Herrero and HE Mr Marcelino Cabanas Ansorena, Ambassador of Spain in Abuja.
Among other dignitaries include Rear Admiral OB Daji, National Defence College, Ms Abiola Sanusi, Senior Policy & Strategy Adviser, Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA)
