By joshua TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN…
On behalf of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (*EWAN*), I extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our speakers, guests, students, partners, and members who turned out in large numbers yesterday to deliberate on a critical issue: the safety of our schools as the foundation for education and national development.
Our profound gratitude goes to the *Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu*, ably represented by the *Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani;* the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Government’s *Financing Safe School Programme, Hajia Halimah Iliya;* and the *Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe,* represented by the *Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Prof. Joseph Awoyinfa.*
We also appreciate the *Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, Mr Olorundare Jimoh,* represented by the *Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gbenga Afolayan;* the *Deputy Commandant (second-in-command) of the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), DCC Jimoh Sulaimon;* and the *Executive Director of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Mrs Motunrayo Alaka.*
Our sincere thanks go to the Lagos State leaders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (*NUT*) and the Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (*ANCOPSS*), *Comrades Hassan Akintoye and Olushola Masheyi*, respectively, who represented their national presidents.
Both the Registrar/CEO of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Head of Nigeria’s Office (HNO) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) were represented by powerful delegations.
We equally appreciate the Chairpersons of the Lagos State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (*NLC*) and the Trade Union Congress (*TUC*), *Comrades Agnes Funmi Sessi and Biodun Aladetan,* respectively; the President of the Lagos State Parents Forum; leaders of the League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP) in Lagos; the Education Rights Campaign (*ERC*) Coordinator in Lagos; our colleagues in the media; and, above all, our committed EWAN members.
We also thank many who joined online via Zoom and those who watched on our Facebook Page.
Your presence, contributions, and commitment made the 7th EWAN Annual Summit a resounding success.
Beyond the speeches and conversations, we are determined to turn the commitments made into meaningful action. The partnerships and collaborations established at the summit will be strengthened to advance school safety, protect learners and teachers, and safeguard education as a cornerstone of national development.
We recognise that no single institution can guarantee the safety of our schools. It will take sustained collaboration among government, security agencies, teachers, parents, school proprietors, civil society, the media, and communities to make every school safe.
That is why we are committed to ensuring that yesterday’s gathering does not become another talk shop. The conversation must continue, the partnerships must endure, and the action must follow.
To everyone who contributed to making this summit memorable and impactful, thank you is an understatement.
For the love of education. For the safety of our children. For the future of our nation.
Yours in service,
*Mojeed Alabi*
Chairman, Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN)