News Editor
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard has praised the efforts of Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, in advancing the educational sector in his state.
The Ambassador who made the commendation while contributing as a panelist on the topic “Current Activities to Protect Schools and Gaps to be Addressed” said she was particularly impressed with measures so far taken by the State Government to ensure that schools in Sokoto State are safe.
The panel Chair, Ms. Aisha Garba Mohammed, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank Nigeria also commended Governor Tambuwal for his deep insights and innovative approaches to school safety and security. She said the Sokoto Model will form a major plank of the National Framework for Safe Schools in Nigeria.
Earlier in his contribution, Governor Tambuwal reeled out measures that the State government has taken to ensure the safety and security of students and teachers in Sokoto State.
With the worsening insecurity in the country and the targeting of students by bandits and kidnappers, he disclosed, the Sokoto State Government moved fast to close schools located at border areas with Niger Republic and the bandits infested areas near Zamfara State and merge them with schools in safe areas. Some boarding students were also sent to Day Schools in their local governments.
He further revealed that security has been beefed up in Sokoto State schools with institutions recruiting more capable security guards and the drafting of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to schools to ensure adequate security. Security systems, he stated, are in place in schools to forewarn teachers and students of any danger.
He called for the creation of a Safe School Fund to sustain the efforts at protecting schools from the anti – education and anti – development machinations of violent non state actors.
