Children’s Day: FG launches child safety, protection initiative

THE Federal Government has launched a child safety and protection initiative tagged “Safe to Schol, Be Seen, Be Safe” targeted at over 40 million schoolchildren across the country as part of activities marking 2021 Children’s Day.

Minister of Education, Maliam Adamu Adamu, has accordingly unveiled the customized reflective children safety jackets and uniforms for cadet and school crossing guards in Abuja.

The Safe School Progranme by the Federal Ministry of Education is in collaboration with the Children Accident Prevention Initiative (CAPI), aimed at increase access and quality to basic education in the country.

Adamu who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, said the customized not-for-sale reflective jackets for school children and other accident prevention infrastructure would aid the prevention of accident, provide immediate care and support for school children.

He said: “This especially for those that sustain injuries while trekking to and from neighbouring schools in pursuant of the good health and well being of school children and realization of quality education.

“The initiative is designed to primarily aid the protection of school children from road accident associated with motor vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles while crossing our busy network of roads to and from their respective schools.

“As enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding, the programme encompasses a phased kitting of school children within the ages of 4-14 years in selected schools at Federal and States level with customized reflective jackets and armband free of charge.”

Adamu noted that the collaboration with CAPI was to address the obvious challenges across every facet crash involving school children and as well chart a new course in combating the carnage of death amongst school children.

“Occasionally, some children that trek through busy roads to their schools are knocked down, injured, maimed for life or even killed instant.

“We are aware of the emotional trauma parents go throat and the social economic impact therein,” Adamu said.

He, therefore, said that the ministry would expand the programme throughout the 36 states and the FCT and also the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and wards to ensure inclusion.

Also, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, said that kitting schoolchildren with reflective jackets would ensure visibility of road users.

He called for extensive collaboration for the successful implementation of the scheme towards reduction of accidents especially as it affects school children.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said that the initiative was laudable at it would bring about consciousness, knowledge and leadership on the part of the students.

Malami called on the students to always strive to keep away from danger just has the Holy Quran and the Holy Bible has admonished.

“As we celebrate our children, this innovation will bring about consciousness of security, knowledge and leadership,” he said.

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