By Vivian Emoni
A Public Relations Practitioner, Mrs Amina Samuel, says protecting schools is critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s human capital and achieving sustainable national development.
Samuel said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
She noted that attacks on schools undermined Nigeria’s future workforce and weakened prospects for long-term development.
She therefore called for stronger measures to protect schools, warning that insecurity threatened not just education, but also the economic growth and social stability of the country.
Samuel said that the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State had renewed concerns about insecurity around educational institutions.
“The issue extends beyond immediate security concerns and affects national development. Classroom is a vital institution where future professionals and leaders are nurtured.
“Schools play a central role in producing doctors, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs and public servants. Therefore, compromising school safety carries consequences beyond the education sector,” she said.
Samuel noted that nations invested in education because human capital drove sustainable development, adding that infrastructure alone could not guarantee progress without educated and skilled citizens.
She said attacks on schools should therefore be viewed as attacks on a nation’s future workforce; they threaten future productivity and national competitiveness.
The expert also raised concerns about the impact of insecurity on parents’ confidence in schools.
According to her, trust remains one of the most valuable assets in any educational system.
“Parents entrust schools with their children, expecting them to return home safely, while teachers and students rely on a secure learning environment,” she said.
She warned that insecurity was gradually eroding confidence in the education system, and sued for urgent measures to tackle the menace.
She said that parents may become reluctant to send their children to school, adding that declining school attendance could worsen educational outcome in vulnerable communities.
She also noted that teachers may sought transfers from areas facing persistent security threats.
According to her, fear and insecurity undermine effective teaching and learning. School insecurity also threatens social stability and efforts to reduce poverty.
Samuel called on government to invest more on prevention, intelligence gathering and school safety infrastructure, while urging all education stakeholders, communities, and security agencies to prioritise school protection as a national development issue.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker
