Stakeholders and leaders in education from across the country are scheduled to assemble in Abuja for a top level meeting on safe school preparedness following recent security breaches in educational institutions.
Retired Maj.-Gen. Matthias Efeovbokhan, Chairman, Organising Committee of the 7th Annual Safe School Consultative Conference, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Efeovbokhan said that the event scheduled from Nov. 22 to Nov. 25 would be hosted against the background that Institutions had recently witnessed various levels of security breaches.
According to him, these security breaches are related, separately or in combination, to incidents of kidnappings, abductions & hostage-taking; cultism; drug abuse; sexual abuse, harassment and rape; misuse of mobile phones, internet and social media platforms; cybercrimes; armed robbery, among others.
“Case studies of past attacks confirm that criminals increasingly introduce new technics, tactics and strategies to successfully beach weak spots of the school security infrastructure.
“Education leaders must be aware of the new tactics and technics being deployed by criminals in order to successfully redesign, refocus and update their safe school policies, practices, protocols and installations to eliminate vulnerabilities and prevent attacks.
“This is the commendable focus of the 7th Annual Safe School Consultative Conference of Education and Security Leaders scheduled to in Abuja,” he said.
Efeovbokhan listed agencies billed to make presentations at the conference to include the Federal Ministry of Education, UNESCO, Department of State Security, Nigeria Police, Army, Air Force, Navy, among others.
He added that education leaders such as: Chairmen and members of Governing Councils of Institutions, Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, their Deputies and other Principal Officers of higher institutions; and others were expected to attend the event.
He, therefore, called on all educational institutions that prioritise the safety and security of their pupils, students, teachers, lecturers and other members of school communities to take part in the conference. (NAN)