By joshua MAN O’ WAR, SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE TRAIN SECONDARY SCHOOLS ON SECURITY, PREPAREDNESS IN KOGI
The Office of the National Coordinator, Safe School Initiative, in partnership with MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA, National Command, has called for collective action to secure Nigerian schools, saying safety is the foundation for quality education and national development.
The call was made on Monday, 27th July 2026, during the Safe Schools Awareness and Preparedness Training (SSAPT) held for secondary school students, teachers, parents, community leaders and stakeholders.
Delivering the presentation, Hon. Dr. Abdulsalam Bawa Dangana, Technical Adviser to the Civilian Joint Task Force, Kogi State Command, said the theme of the training, “Build Safer Schools Through Partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities”, was designed to support the National Safe School Initiative and ensure a safer Nigeria.
Dr. Dangana noted that schools, which should be sanctuaries of learning, are now facing threats of insecurity, bullying, cultism, drug abuse, fire outbreaks and natural disasters. He stressed that when a school is not safe, learning stops, and when a child is not safe, the nation’s future is at risk.
He explained that building safer schools requires three key actions. First is partnership among government, security agencies, schools, parents, NGOs and organizations like MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA. Second is preparedness through drills, first aid, early warning systems and emergency response plans. Third is collective responsibility, because safety is not the duty of security personnel alone.
Highlighting the role of MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA, Dr. Dangana said the organization, with its motto “Build The Man, Build The Community”, will raise awareness against bullying, cultism and drug abuse, build preparedness through first aid and evacuation training, promote discipline and patriotism, and serve as a bridge between schools, security agencies and communities for intelligence and support.
He charged students to be vigilant and speak up against crime, urged teachers and parents to mentor and report threats early, called on school authorities to domesticate safety policies and conduct regular drills, and appealed to government and security agencies to provide infrastructure, lighting and quick response. He also asked communities and stakeholders to adopt schools and support training and resources.
In his conclusion, Dr. Dangana said a safer school produces better students, and better students build a better Nigeria. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Safe School Initiative and MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA to “Build The Man with discipline and values” in order to “Build The Community and Build A Safer Nigeria.”
The training ended with a resolve: “My School, My Responsibility. Nigeria, My Country.”
FULL PRESENTATION PAPER / SPEECH
OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR, SAFE SCHOOL INITIATIVE In Partnership with MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA, NATIONAL COMMAND (BUILD THE MAN, BUILD THE COMMUNITY).
PROTOCOLS:
SAFE SCHOOLS AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS TRAINING (SSAPT)
THEME: “Build Safer Schools Through Partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities”. Supporting The National Safe School Initiative and for a Safer Nigeria
AUDIENCE: Secondary School Students, Teachers, Parents, Community Leaders and Stakeholders
1. ADDRESS AND INTRODUCTION
Distinguished stakeholders, principals, teachers, parents, and our future leaders – the students, good morning/afternoon.
I bring you felicitations and warm greetings from the Office of the National Coordinator, Safe School Initiative, in partnership with MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA, National Command.
We are gathered here today for the SAFE SCHOOLS AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESS TRAINING – SSAPT.
Our purpose is clear: to secure our schools, protect our children, and secure the future of Nigeria.
2. WHY SSAPT? WHY NOW?
Our schools should be sanctuaries of learning. But today, they face threats of insecurity, bullying, cultism, drug abuse, fire, and natural disasters.
When a school is not safe, learning stops.
When a child (student) is not safe, a nation’s future is at risk.
This is why the National Safe School Initiative was created – and why we must all key into it.
3. OUR THEME EXPLAINED
“Build Safer Schools Through Partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities”
This means 3 things:
1. Partnership: Government, security agencies, schools, parents, NGOs, and organizations like MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA must work together. No one can do it alone.
2. Preparedness: We must train. Drills, first aid, early warning, and emergency response plans must be in place before danger comes.
3. Collective Responsibility: Safety is not for security men alone. Students, teachers, parents, and the community all have a role to play.
4. THE ROLE OF MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA IN SSAPT
As a disciplined, voluntary youth organization, MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA aligns fully with this initiative through our motto: BUILD THE MAN, BUILD THE COMMUNITY.
Under SSAPT, we will:
– A. Raise Awareness: Campaigns against bullying, cultism, drug abuse, and vandalism.
– B. Build Preparedness: Train students and staff in first aid, fire safety, evacuation drills, and emergency response.
– C. Promote Discipline and Leadership: Instill values of patriotism, service, and respect for law and order.
– D. Support Partnership: Act as the bridge between schools, security agencies, and communities for intelligence and support.
5. CALL TO COLLECTIVE ACTION
To build safer schools, we all must act:
– To Students: Be vigilant. Speak up. Protect one another. Say no to crime.
– To Teachers and Parents: Be mentors. Reinforce discipline and report threats early.
– To School Authorities: Domesticate safety policies. Conduct regular drills and check ups.
– To Government and Security Agencies: Provide infrastructure, lighting, and quick response.
– To Communities and Stakeholders: Adopt a school. Support training and resources.
6. CONCLUSION
Ladies and gentlemen, a safer school produces better students. Better students build a better Nigeria.
Through SSAPT, the Office of the National Coordinator and MAN O’ WAR NIGERIA reaffirm our commitment to BUILD THE MAN with discipline and values, so that together we can BUILD THE COMMUNITY and BUILD A SAFER NIGERIA.
Let us leave here today with one resolve: My School, My Responsibility. Nigeria, My Country.
Thank you for listening, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Hon. Dr. Abdulsalam Bawa DANGANA,
Technical Adviser to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF),
Kogi State Command.
© Monday, 27th July 2026.