iProtect for School on Monday

Safety within the School System: An URGENT CALL FOR STRATEGIC ACTION…

Sure you and family are doing well this beautiful Monday…

Permit me to say that I will come to you every Monday to share with you Child Protection issues…

Today, I will address Safety within the School System….

The more the state of our nation becomes dire, the citizens become more desperate…Sadly, I read last week of the invasion of a school in Epe, which was invaded by kidnappers during their morning assembly as about 8.AM, kidnapping children and teachers…

The question is, what steps must we take to secure our schools in the face of the insecurity we face as it relates to external invitation and rapidly growing ‘Kidnapping Industry…’

The attitude of Government, whose PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY is the SECURITY and the WELFARE of the people, according to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria seems to more of REACTING than RESPONDING and PREVENTIVE…

In view of the foregoing, I think same way we have made alternative arrangement for all other social services, schools may begin to think about how to make adequate provisions for our safety and that of our precious children under our care…

As far as I am concerned, having studied extensively, criminal psychology and victimology, I know 3 main social factors create the room for the commission of any crime: 1. Intention to commit crime, 2. Rewards from Crime 3. Possibility of unfettered escape…All of the foregoing are present with us today, the state of the nation and its pressure creates the pressure for crime and the intention thereof. The fact that kidnappers are paid huge ransom creates the rewards. The porousness and comprised state of the state security, with no plan for preventive measures as led by the police creates the room for unfettered escape.

In view of the foregoing, at risk of sounding like a prophet of doom, I think the kidnappers are testing waters…They are rehearsing their anti-social acts by visiting some schools now…The more they are successful, the more their boldness to strike…The question therefore is WHO IS NEXT?

Before we say God forbid, which we must actually, but not without adding corresponding actions to it, I make bold to say today that as someone, who has invested the large chunk of my breath on observing matters of the protection of our precious children in black Africa, the kidnappers will remain miles ahead of us except we begin a serious conversation on this crucial matter.

I think the leaders of the educational sector should declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY within the sector concerning SECURITY, taking the following steps:
1. Urge each school to overhaul the entirety of the Security System within their school system, engaging child protection and security experts on what professional steps could be taken to improve the internal security of the school, including school run services…We must understand that if kidnappers may visit a school, they may also hijack a school bus, filled with children.

2. Every effort must be made to engage the Government and her security agencies to design and implement a Security Framework for Schools at this time. The Proposed Security Framework will apply the Doctrine of Necessity and focus more on PREVENTION than CURE…

Permit me to say that inasmuch as I may not say all I think we should do today, but I know there is ONE thing we must NEVER do in the VERY BEST INTEREST OF OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN. We must NOT keep QUIET, waiting for the manna of security to fall from heaven.
We must act STRATEGICALLY…
We must act DECISIVELY…
We must act URGENTLY…

The safety of our precious children and their teachers is the NUMBER one responsibility of the school leadership and all other stakeholders…It must not be allowed a place under the carpet, noting that learning do not take place in an atmosphere of INSECURITY and FEAR…

The ONLY edge of EVIL over GOOD is the SILENCE of men and women of Good CONSCIENCE…

Let the UNFETTERED CONVERSATION start NOW on the MOST CRITICAL MATTER within the SCHOOL SYSTEM today, noting as The Preacher has always said, Enlightenment is Superior to Enforcement. The trauma and impact of kidnapping of children is eternal for the kidnapped children and the observing Children, except there is DIVINE INTERVENTION.

I, The Preacher shall be available for clarifications and professional guidance both at individual school and association level.

Do have an INSPIRED week.
Your IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PRECIOUS AFRICAN CHILD,
Taiwo AKINLAMI
C) 2016 by Taiwo ‘ODINAKACHUWU’ AKINLAMI…All Rights Reserved
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