Kogi Education Commissioner Seeks Support of Public on School Safety

By Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja

Following the foiled kidnap of Students of Government Secondary School Iluke in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Kogi State Commissioner of Education, Mr. Wemi Jones has solicited the support of the people on enhanced school safety.

The Commissioner made the appeal while speaking on this week’s edition of State of Kogi, a Radio Kogi audience participatory programme.

Recall that on Wednesday last week, bandits launched an attack on the ancient town of Iluke in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area in an attempt to abduct students writing the West African Senior Secondary School Examination.

This attempt was met with resistance of gallant Security Agencies especially the Nigerian Army which resulted in a gun battle, foiling the kidnap attempt.

Speaking on the Radio Programme, the Education Commissioner, appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to support the School Safety Programme aimed at providing security in the current waves of insecurity.

Wemi Jones Assures of Government Commitment To Quality Tertiary Education In Kogi

According to him, like security, Education is not the responsibility of government alone as the people need to support the government in its bid to provide safety for teachers and learners.

The Commissioner maintained that the ban on excessive graduation celebration especially from Nursery to Primary and from Primary to Secondary is still in place, warning that schools that violate the directive will be adequately sanctioned.

Mr. Jones explained that the Government is aware of the need to recruit teachers in both Secondary and Primary schools, saying the second batch of recruitment is ongoing.

While responding to a question from one of the callers, Solomon Yahaya on what the State Government is doing to improve the condition of School of Deaf in Zango, the Commissioner said while teachers were recruited, efforts are on to do more.

On the Annual Schools Census, Mr. Wemi Jones added that the exercise will provide Learners Identification Number for students and Pupils which will as well assist government with data for accurate decision making.

Some callers, Mrs. Jane Ibrahim and Mr. Steve from Lokoja applauded the swift intervention of Government and Security Agencies during the attack of Government Secondary School Iluke.