In addressing student safety, the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre Commander, Hameed Abodunrin, has highlighted the importance of including off-campus accommodations like student hostels within the Safe School framework.
On 9 February 2024, students of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, protested against the incessant robbery attacks that had been ravaging the student community.
To strengthen campus security, Abodunrin, who spoke with The Punch on Wednesday, emphasised the project’s applicability to all educational settings, particularly tertiary institutions.
He stressed the need for comprehensive protection plans, involving both on-campus and off-campus situations.
He said, “The Safe School project is for every place of learning, tertiary institutions are inclusive.
“Many universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education, among others, have their students’ hostels outside the school campuses.
“Whatever happens to them is also seen and considered as part of the Safe School issues. As such, carrying them along is key for comprehensive protection plans”, the commander said.
He noted the unique engagement required for tertiary institutions due to the maturity of students, involving both student union leadership and university management.
Furthermore, security personnel are receiving specialised training to handle challenges in both settings.
“The way tertiary institutions are being engaged is a bit different in that the students are more mature and independent. The leadership of the students’ union as well as the university management is being engaged as well.
“Besides, security operatives in some of the higher institutions are being trained not only to further understand the problems within but outside their campuses”, Abodunrin stated.
Abodunrin also emphasised the necessity of a holistic approach involving governmental and societal efforts to address insecurity, encompassing various strategies from governmental resources to societal contributions like providing information to security agencies and offering psychosocial support to affected individuals within the community.
