RismadarVoice Reporters, April 16, 2026
The Save the Children has lauded 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 came during a courtesy visit by Save the Children’s Country Director, Duncan Harvey, and members of the organisation’s senior management team to the SPS headquarters in Abuja.
The delegation was received by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Abayomi Shogunle, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police.
According to a statement issued by Anthony Okon Placid, the visit forms part of ongoing collaboration between both institutions aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Safe School Declaration and improving coordinated security mechanisms for the protection of education nationwide.
Harvey commended the Schools Protection Squad for its pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s efforts to address challenges affecting children, noting that the initiative has contributed significantly to ensuring safe, secure, and violence-free learning environments.
He further revealed that Nigeria’s progress in school safety has earned global recognition, positioning the country as a leader in implementing the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) framework. As part of this recognition, Save the Children is supporting plans for a high-level international exchange visit, during which foreign delegates will understudy Nigeria’s model, with the SPS expected to play a central role in showcasing its operational structures and impact.
The statement also disclosed growing international interest in Nigeria’s approach, particularly from Norway, a global advocate for protecting education from attacks. Following discussions at the Fifth International Safe Schools Declaration Conference held in Kenya, Norwegian officials, including the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Norway, are planning a visit to Nigeria to further assess the SPS operations.
In his remarks, Shogunle expressed appreciation for the visit and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining partnerships with stakeholders and strengthening strategies to protect schools and communities.
Save the Children, which operates in more than 120 countries, has maintained a presence in Nigeria since 2001, implementing programmes focused on child protection, healthcare, resilience building, and humanitarian response across 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its resolve to ensure that schools across the country remain safe and conducive for learning.
