IGP Egbetokun Reaffirms Police Commitment To Safeguarding Schools
•By Oyeniyi Awojoodu
IBADAN – The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Kayode Egbetokun has reaffirm government’s commitment to a safe and secured teaching and learning environments across the country.
Speaking as special guest of honour in Ibadan the Capital City of Oyo State at the 2-day Stakeholders’ Forum organized by the office of the National Coordinator and Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad (SPS) Force Headquarters Abuja under the leadership of CP Abayomi Shogunle, IGP Egbetokun who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 11, AIG Emuobo Fred Ekokotu highlighted the need for collaboration from all the stakeholders towards ensuring safer and secured learning environments.
Egbetokun maintained that collaboration with all stakeholders will equip everybody in the fight against any form of security challenges in the education sector.
“This stakeholders’ forum became necessary and important for us to train our Schools Protection Squad (SPS) and to also meet and dialogue with some critical stakeholders in Oyo state on how to ensure a safer and secured learning environment for our children and their teachers.” He said.
In his address, Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde who was represented by the Commissioner for education, Hon Segun Olayiwola stressed the readiness of the state to partner with the Police in combating crimes that may pose as threats to the learning environments across the geo political zones of the state.
He also pledged continue support for the police to ensure safer Oyo state for all and sundry, stressing that progress can only be achieved in a peaceful society.
Earlier In his welcome address, the state Commissioner of Police CP Johnson Oluwole Adenola applauded the timeliness of the stakeholders’ forum which centered on security of schools in Oyo state.
Adenola however promised to that the Oyo State Police Command will implement the recommendations made by all the stakeholders in line with the professional conduct of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure safer and secured learning environment for students in the state.
In his address themed, “Strengthening Security Resilience And Integration of Host Communities In The Protection of Education”, CP Abayomi Shogunle reiterated the federal government commitments towards ensuring safer and secured learning environments across the country.
Shogunle noted that the IGP Egbetokun is very committed to a safer and serene environment for all teaching and learning institutions in the Country.
He said, “In it’s responsibility to create a safer and more secured learning environment, the federal government formally signed the safe school declaration documents on 31st December, 2019 to signal the country’s commitment to its implementation alongside 118 member countries. This is to further demonstrate the resolve to address the serious challenges posed by and insecurity to safety of schools.
“The federal ministry of finance in consultation with the local and global stakeholders conveyed a high level forum on 20th April 2021 to address the menace of attacks on education on a holistic and sustainable basis by creating innovative sources of funding through federal, state and local governments.
“The policy also provides guidelines and a framework for ensuring safe and secured learning environments in schools nationwide.
“The objectives of the programme is to strengthen the security resilience and integrate host communities into the security architecture in the protection of education and to also enhance the capacity communities to protect education.This also include to create an effective and efficient national school security and emergency response infrastructures among others.
The 2-day forum which commenced on Thursday 26th June 2025, ended on Friday 27th June, 2025, graced by concerned stakeholders in the state such as heads of sister security agencies, students associations, teachers, various security operatives, para-military agencies, traditional rulers, government officials among others.