As Nigeria commemorates the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, Save the Children International Nigeria has issued a call for urgent action to safeguard educational institutions from violence.
This plea comes in response to the persistent targeting of schools, students, and teachers by armed groups, which threatens the future of millions of children in conflict-affected regions.
According to the ‘Education Under Attack Report 2024’ by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), Nigeria has experienced a sustained wave of attacks on schools in its northeastern, northwestern, and north central states over the past two years. These assaults, often carried out by non-state armed groups, are compounded by pastoralist-farmer conflicts, leading to the military use of schools and further jeopardizing children’s right to education.
The organization further warned that such attacks disproportionately affect girls, who face increased risks of child marriage, early pregnancies, and stigmatization when denied access to safe learning environments. Save the Children emphasized that these challenges often result in long-term psychological harm, making it even less likely that affected children will return to school.
“When schools are targeted, dreams are disrupted,” said Hon. Madina Abdulkadir, former Speaker of the Borno State Children Parliament and Save the Children Nigeria’s Girl Champion. “Every child deserves a safe place to learn. I urge all stakeholders to come together to protect education and uphold the values of peace and security.”
Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children International Nigeria, underscored the urgency of protecting education for children, emphasizing the importance of global and national frameworks designed to address the crisis. “The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act recognize education as a fundamental right.
“We must all work together to ensure that children, regardless of their circumstances, can fulfill this right”, he said.
Save the Children however called on the Nigerian government to fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD), an international commitment endorsed by Nigeria to protect schools from attack.
The organization urged for swift adherence to the declaration’s guidelines, as well as the comprehensive adoption of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
