NSCDC plans security training for 10,000 school principals
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced plans to train 10,000 school principals across the country on personal security and school protection measures.
Okoro David Emeka 
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced plans to train 10,000 school principals across the country on personal security and school protection measures. This initiative, revealed by the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, aims to fortify the security framework of schools amidst escalating security challenges.
The announcement was made at the annual conference of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), as detailed in a statement by the NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday. Representing Audi, the Commander of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Hammed Abodunrin, underscored the importance of equipping school leaders with the skills needed to effectively respond to security threats.
“The initiative aims to empower school leaders with the necessary skills and confidence to respond to security threats effectively,” Audi said. He emphasized that the NSCDC has comprehensive plans in place to ensure the program's success and called for a collective effort to safeguard schools.
The training, which will be offered at no cost, will cover a range of topics including personal security, hostile environment awareness training, child protection skills, information management, emergency response, and first aid. “ANCOPSS only needs to make their members available and provide venues such as their secretariats or school auditoriums,” Abodunrin explained. He also noted that since gathering 10,000 participants at once is impractical, the training will be conducted on a state-by-state basis.
The training will follow a 'Train the Trainers' approach, allowing principals to return to their schools and disseminate the knowledge to other teachers. This method ensures that the security measures taught can be widely implemented across the country's educational institutions.
This initiative comes in the wake of rising security threats in Nigerian schools. In March 2024, the Federal Government highlighted that schools in states including Borno, Benue, and Sokoto were at high risk of attacks by bandits and insurgents. This new training program by the NSCDC is a proactive step towards mitigating such threats and ensuring the safety of students and staff across Nigeria.
