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Safe School Initiative: Security agencies collaborate to prevent attacks

Published

6 years ago

September 5, 2019

The Nigerian security agencies have been commended for their role in the implementation of safe school initiatives and in reducing attacks on schools in the country.

Coordinating Consultant, Safe School Empowerment Project, Rtd. Maj.-Gen. Matthias Efeovbokhan gave the commendation in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Efeovbokhan said the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, and National Emergency Management Agency have been working together to ensure safety in schools.

He maintained that they have been working together in the best tradition of multi-stakeholder collaboration to provide updates on safe school preventive, precautionary and protective best practices.

He said the security agencies have been assisting to enhance the capacity of educational stakeholders toward the development and implementation of safe school best practices, protocols and measures.

According to him, stakeholders across the country are convinced that without the sustained collaborative effort of security agencies, attacks on schools and consequential casualties would have been worse.

“The focus of security agencies in this year’s consultative conference, scheduled to hold in Abuja from Sept. 10 to 12, is on lessons learned from recent attacks on educational institutions around the world.

“The annual confab is organized by Safe School Academy International as a component of the Safe School Empowerment Project launched in 2014.

“The confab is of strategic importance for educational institutions for good reasons.

“Various reports confirm that schools have become targets of choice for terrorists, insurgents, militants, kidnappers, cultists, robbers and other criminals and that the attacks are on the increase,” he said.

Efeovbokhan said a report released by UNICEF on Aug.21 verified that 396 schools were under attack in African and Middle East countries.

He added that in Nigeria, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, and robbers continued to target schools.

Efeovbokhan said this year’s edition of the conference would feature the commencement of the nationwide distribution of Safe School Compliance Guide produced to assist parents, regulators, proprietors, and administrators of educational institutions.

He added that it would also help to objectively assess the level of protective, preventive, precautionary and mitigation best practices, protocol and measures against security risks, threats and vulnerabilities in their institutions.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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