The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will train 10,000 school principals across the country on personal security and school protection measures.
The initiative was unveiled by the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, at the annual conference of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday.
Audi, represented at the conference by the Commander, National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Commandant Hammed Abodunrin, stressed the importance of strengthening the security framework of schools and their host communities amid rising security challenges.
The CG said the initiative aimed to empower school leaders with the necessary skills and confidence to respond to security threats effectively.
He said the NSCDC had put comprehensive plans in place to ensure the success of the programme, stressing the need for a collective effort to safeguard schools.
According to Abodunrin, the training, offered at no cost, would cover personal security, hostile environment awareness training, child protection skills, information management, emergency response, and first aid.
The NSCDC, he said, would partner with the national centre to deliver the training, with the ANCOPSS providing venues and coordinating participant availability.
“ANCOPSS only needs to make their members available and provide venues such as their secretariats or school auditoriums.
“Since it is practically impossible to bring 10,000 participants together at a time; any state that is ready should just invite the centre and give dates for the training,” Abodunrin said.
He stressed that the training would follow a “Train the Trainers” approach, allowing principals to return to their schools and train other teachers.
The Federal Government, in March 2024, said schools in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were at risk of attacks by bandits and insurgents.
It listed the states as Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, FCT, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau, Zamfara and three others.