The Save the Children has commended the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad (SPS) for its dedication to safeguarding educational institutions, enhancing community safety, and strengthening rapid response mechanisms across the country.
This commendation was delivered during a courtesy visit by the Country Director of Save the Children, Duncan Harvey, and members of the organisation’s senior management team to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. They were received by the Commissioner of Police, Schools Protection Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.
The visit forms part of ongoing collaboration between Save the Children and the SPS to strengthen the implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration and improve coordinated security measures aimed at protecting education nationwide.
Speaking during the visit, Harvey praised the Squad for its instrumental role in advancing Nigeria’s efforts to address threats to education, noting that their interventions have contributed significantly to ensuring children learn in safe, secure, and violence-free environments.
He further revealed that Nigeria’s Safe Schools model has gained global recognition, with plans underway for a high-level international exchange visit. The initiative, supported by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, will bring foreign delegates to Nigeria to understudy its successful implementation strategy, with the SPS expected to play a central role in showcasing operational frameworks and field-level impact.
In addition, Norway has expressed interest in Nigeria’s progress. Following the Fifth International Safe Schools Declaration Conference held in Kenya last year, senior Norwegian officials, alongside leadership from Save the Children Norway, are planning a visit to Nigeria to gain deeper insight into the Squad’s operations.
In his remarks, CP Shogunle expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to sustained collaboration with stakeholders in education and child protection. He emphasized the Force’s resolve to ensure that schools across Nigeria remain safe for all learners.
Save the Children, which has operated in Nigeria since 2001, continues to implement programmes in child protection, healthcare, resilience building, and humanitarian response across 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to maintaining secure learning environments nationwide, underscoring the importance of partnerships in achieving lasting school safety.
