The Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and UNICEF, has unveiled three vital handbooks for national use.
The launch took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, during a dissemination and validation workshop held at the Hawthorn Suites, Abuja.
The three handbooks—Climate Change Education for Schools in Nigeria, Early Warning: A Guide to Protecting Schools in Nigeria, and Managing School-Related Violence in Nigeria—are designed to equip educators, school administrators, and policymakers with practical tools to respond to environmental and security challenges in the education sector.
Representing the Honourable Minister of Education, Permanent Secretary Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, through Hajiya Larai Ahmed, Director of Education Support Services, described the launch as a “milestone in strengthening school safety.”
He confirmed the Minister’s approval for nationwide deployment and praised the handbooks as “transformative tools that promote environmental awareness, proactive safety measures, and violence prevention.”
Hajiya Larai Ahmed, speaking in her capacity as both the Permanent Secretary’s representative and Programme Lead, welcomed education stakeholders and commended UNICEF for its technical support. She urged the effective integration of the handbooks into national education policies and school operations.
On behalf of UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Education, Vanessa Lee, Education Specialist Mrs. Nneka Ogbansiegbe revealed that the handbooks were developed following assessments of over 16,000 schools across 18 states. Shockingly, only 25% of these schools met national safety standards.
“These handbooks are practical, data-driven, and rooted in national policy,” she said, adding that they will help improve school safety, preparedness, and climate education.
Delivering UBEC’s goodwill message, Mrs. Blessing Uzoamaka, on behalf of Mrs. Patience Omoniyi, stressed that “schools should be spaces of learning, not fear,” and called for collective efforts to combat violence and environmental threats.
UNICEF’s Mr. Believe Eke introduced the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools scorecard and emphasized building local capacity, particularly in underserved and unity schools.
He called on stakeholders to adopt a collaborative approach to ensure safer school environments.
Dr. Caroline Olaitan, Principal Education Officer, detailed the handbook development process, which involved stakeholder engagement, pilot testing, and content validation.
She highlighted that the handbooks are visually engaging, user-friendly, and tailored to fill critical gaps in the education system.
Further insights came from experts: Dr. Kayode Fagbemi (Climate Change), Dr. Tersoo Shapera (Early Warning Systems), and Dr. Myfriend Bulus (Violence Prevention), each stressing the relevance and practical application of the materials in everyday school settings.
The workshop concluded with a unified call to move the handbooks “from paper to practice,” reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child learns in a safe, secure, and inclusive environment.
