The Federal Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has unveiled three comprehensive handbooks designed to enhance school safety, promote climate change education, and raise awareness of early warning signs for disaster preparedness in schools.
The unveiling took place at a one-day dissemination workshop in Abuja, focused on Climate Change Education (CCE), Early Warning Signs (EWS), and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)’s Teachers’ Guide on Managing School-Related Violence. The handbooks were produced by the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC, with technical and financial support from UNICEF.
UNICEF’s Chief of Education in Nigeria, Ms. Vanessa Lee, represented by Education Specialist Mrs. Nneka Ogbansiegbe, emphasized that the new materials are vital tools for teachers, education stakeholders, and policymakers. She announced the titles of the handbooks as: Climate Change Education – Handbook for Schools, Early Warning for Schools – A Guide to Protecting Schools and Learning Centres in Nigeria, and Managing Violence in Schools – Handbook for Schools and Learning Centres. Lee noted that the guides provide practical steps to identify potential threats, respond to climate risks, and foster safe and inclusive learning environments.
The handbooks are part of a broader initiative rooted in the 2021 launch of the National Policy for Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools, and the Minimum Standards for Safe Schools. According to Lee, UNICEF deployed a monitoring tool in 2023 to assess safety standards in 6,000 schools, revealing that only 20 percent met 70 percent of the required criteria. A further assessment in 2024 expanded to 16,023 schools across 18 states, including Sokoto, Borno, Lagos, Oyo, and Kaduna, with just one in four schools reaching the minimum safety threshold.
She added that more than half of the schools assessed scored below average in areas such as disaster preparedness, violence prevention, and safe commuting for students. In response, UNICEF supported five states in conducting hazard assessments and worked with the government to produce the handbooks now being introduced for use across the country.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Enitan Abel, represented by the Director of Education Support Services Department, Hajiya Larai Ahmed, described the launch of the handbooks as a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s education system. He confirmed that the resources have received approval from the Minister of Education for nationwide adoption and use in schools. Abel praised all partners involved in the project, noting that their contributions had helped lay the foundation for safer, more resilient learning environments.
Also present at the event was the Deputy Director of Teacher Development at UBEC, Mrs. Patience Omoniyi, who was represented by Assistant Chief Education Officer, Mrs. Blessing Uzoamaka. Omoniyi stressed that every child deserves a secure and supportive space for learning, adding that urgent measures are needed to address school-related violence and environmental threats that continue to undermine education outcomes. She called for sustained collaboration to ensure that schools across the country become havens of safety, growth, and opportunity for all learners.
