EWAN Summit to Tackle School Safety, As IGP Disu Leads Security Talks

The Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) is set to host its seventh annual summit in Lagos on Wednesday, focusing on school safety and protection. The theme of the summit is 'Schools Under Threat: From Reactive Responses to Sustainable Protection'. The event aims to bring together education and security stakeholders to discuss sustainable measures to safeguard learners, teachers, and school facilities.

The summit will be chaired by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the keynote address will be delivered by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.

Mojeed Alabi, Chairman of EWAN, emphasized the need for proactive planning, adequate funding, and effective early-warning mechanisms to address the growing threats to school safety. He highlighted the far-reaching consequences of school attacks, including fear among teachers, uncertainty among parents, and vulnerability for learners.

Alabi stressed that schools must establish comprehensive protection measures before emergencies occur, rather than reacting after incidents. The summit will delve into various aspects, including preventive measures, early-warning systems, emergency response, community engagement, and the role of the media in exposing gaps in school protection.

Participants will also discuss the responsibilities of different stakeholders, such as government agencies, security personnel, school managers, and communities, in preventing attacks and ensuring continuous education during security emergencies.