Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched the Katsina State Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting students, teachers and educational institutions from insecurity and violence.
Speaking during the launch ceremony in Katsina, Governor Radda said every school in the state must become “a safe haven for learning, free from fear, violence and disruption.”
The policy was adapted from the 2021 National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools (NPSSVFS) and tailored to address Katsina’s peculiar challenges.
The domestication process of the policy was led by the State Steering Committee on Safe Schools with support from Save the Children International with funding from Education Cannot Wait.
Radda stressed that quality education can only flourish in a peaceful and secure environment, lamenting that insecurity, attacks on schools, bullying, substance abuse and gender-based violence had severely affected learning outcomes across the state.
The governor commended members of the committee for their dedication and collaborative efforts, while also praising the Katsina State Children’s Parliament for its advocacy and contributions to the policy development process.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to invest in school infrastructure, security measures, child protection systems and teacher capacity building to ensure safer learning environments.
Radda further appealed to the Federal Government, particularly the Federal Ministry of Education and security agencies, to support the state through policy alignment, technical assistance and sustainable funding.
He also urged communities across the state to take ownership of their schools, describing school safety as a collective responsibility.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, noted that no meaningful education could take place in an unsafe environment.
He Governor Radda for prioritising child protection and acknowledged the Federal Government’s leadership in implementing the Safe Schools Declaration.
Earlier, the Deputy Country Representative of Save the Children International (SCI), Jane Mbagi, disclosed that the organisation had worked in Katsina for nearly 15 years in areas including maternal and child health, nutrition, child participation and system strengthening.
She revealed that in 2025 alone, SCI supported the enrolment of more than 122,000 children in formal and non-formal education, including 235 children with special needs.
Mbagi also commended the Katsina State Government for allocating funds to the Children’s Parliament in the 2025 budget, which she said contributed significantly to the domestication of the policy.
Speaking on behalf of the Children’s Parliament, Saudat Akilu highlighted the devastating impact insecurity had on education in Katsina, recalling a period when schools were shut down due to violent attacks.
According to her, children were forced to live in fear while parents and teachers faced uncertainty over the safety of schools.
Francis Sardauna
