Nigeria Police SPS Earns Praise from Save the Children for Strengthening School Security
The Save the Children International has commended the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad (SPS) for its commitment to safeguarding schools, strengthening community safety, and enhancing rapid response mechanisms across the country.
The commendation was given during a courtesy visit by the Country Director of Save the Children, Duncan Harvey, alongside members of the organisation’s senior management team, to the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Schools Protection Squad, CP Abayomi Shogunle, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, conducted on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, forms part of ongoing collaboration between Save the Children and the Squad to strengthen the implementation of the Safe School Declaration and improve coordinated security measures aimed at protecting education in Nigeria.
Harvey praised the Schools Protection Squad for playing a critical role in advancing Nigeria’s national agenda on child protection, noting that the initiative has significantly contributed to ensuring that children learn in safe, secure, and violence-free environments.
He further stated that Nigeria has gained global recognition as a leader in the implementation of the Safe Schools initiative. In line with this progress, Save the Children is supporting the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) to organise a high-level state-to-state exchange visit to Nigeria.
According to him, the visit will bring foreign delegates to understudy Nigeria’s successful implementation model, with the Schools Protection Squad expected to play a central role in showcasing its operational framework and field-level impact.
Harvey also disclosed that Norway, a global champion for protecting education from attack, has expressed interest in Nigeria’s achievements. He noted that following the Fifth International Safe Schools Declaration Conference held in Kenya, the Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Norway are planning a visit to Nigeria.
The delegation is expected to visit the Schools Protection Squad Headquarters to gain firsthand insight into its operations and the progress made in securing educational institutions.
In his response, CP Abayomi Shogunle expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthening school protection, enhancing community safety, and sustaining collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the education sector.
Save the Children, an international organisation operating in over 120 countries, has maintained a strong presence in Nigeria since 2001. The organisation implements programmes focused on child protection, healthcare, resilience building, safe schools, and humanitarian response in emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and armed conflict.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to ensuring that schools across the country remain safe and conducive for learning.
