The Federal Government on Thursday launched a “Safe to Schol, Be Seen, Be Safe” initiative to targets 40 million school children to ensure their safety in and out of school.

The Minister of Education, Maliam Adamu Adamu, at the unveiling of customized reflective children safety jackets and uniforms for cadet and school crossing guards in Abuja said it would increase access and quality.

The Safe School Progranme by the Federal Ministry of Education is in collaboration with the Children Accident Prevention Initiative (CAPI).

Adamu was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba.

According to him, the unveiling of customized not for sale reflective jackets for school children and other accident prevention infrastructure to aid the prevention of accidents will provide immediate care and support for school children.

“ This especially for those that sustain injuries while trekking to and from neighboring schools in pursuant of the good health and well being of school children and realization of quality education.

“The initiative is designed to primarily aid the protection of school children from road accident associated with motor vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles while crossing our busy network of roads to and from their respective schools.

“ As enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding, the programme encompasses a phased kitting of school children within the ages of 4-14 years in selected schools at Federal and States level with customized reflective jackets and armband free of charge.”

Adamu noted that the collaboration with CAPI was to address the obvious challenges across every facet crash involving school children and as well chart a new course in combating the carnage of death amongst school children.

“ Occasionally, some children that trek through busy roads to their schools are knocked down, injured, maimed for life or even killed instant.

“ Wr are aware of the emotional trauma parents go throat and the social economic impact therein, “ Adamu said.

He, therefore, said that the ministry would expand the programme throughout the 36 states and the FCT and also the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and wards to ensure inclusion.

Also, Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary. Federal Ministry of Education said that kitting school children with reflective jackets would ensure visibility of road users.

He called for extensive collaboration for the successful implementation of the scheme towards reduction of accidents especially as it affects school children.

Similarly, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouk, commended the ministry of education for the innovative and worthwhile initiative.

Farouk pledged her ministry’s readiness to fully support the initiative towards empowering 40million school children with accident prevention kits.

Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, said the National Assembly would continue support the initiatives that would encourage students to go to school.

“ While we continue to experience concerns over the fate of our children in captivity and those in the hands of terrorists, kidnappers, it gives us the room to reflect on the rights of our children to good education, social security, safety and love.

“ Our children have always make us proud and as such it provides the government at all levels to rededicate themselves in the domestication of the Child Rights Act to reposition basic education in Nigeria. “

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said that the initiative was laudable at it would bring about consciousness, knowledge and leadership on the part of the students.

Malami called on the students to always strive to keep away from danger just has the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible has admonished.

“ As we celebrate our children, this innovation will bring about consciousness of security, knowledge and leadership,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries from private and government parastatals graced the occasion.