…to publicly name offenders
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The federal government on Wednesday stepped up its nationwide offensive against bullying in schools, warning that students found guilty of intimidating or abusing their peers will face stiff disciplinary measures, including suspension, expulsion and public identification.
The warning came as the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, convened a sensitisation workshop in Abuja to drive the implementation of the National Policy on Anti-Bullying and promote safer learning environments across the country.
The workshop, themed “Sensitisation Workshop for Students and Teachers on the National Policy on Anti-Bullying and the Effects of Bullying”, brought together students and teachers from schools across the Federal Capital Territory, representing millions of learners nationwide.
Speaking at the event, UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary, Hon. Razak Olajuwon, said the campaign reflects the determination of the Tinubu administration to eradicate bullying and ensure that every Nigerian child learns in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.
He described bullying as a widespread problem that has continued to inflict psychological, emotional and academic harm on students, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate the menace.
According to him, school authorities have been empowered to enforce the anti-bullying policy, with sanctions ranging from suspension and expulsion to what he described as “name and shame” for offenders.
“No student wants to be suspended. No student wants to be expelled. When students are publicly identified for bullying, it affects them psychologically and also impacts their parents and guardians. These are measures intended to discourage such behaviour,” Olajuwon said.
He urged students to break the culture of silence by reporting every case of bullying, insisting that victims and witnesses have a responsibility to speak out.
“If you see something, say something. Remaining silent when another student is being bullied only worsens the situation. Bullying affects victims mentally, psychologically and ultimately undermines their academic performance,” he said.
Olajuwon disclosed that the Ministry of Education and UBEC have intensified awareness campaigns in schools, adding that the sustained engagement has already led to a noticeable decline in reported bullying cases.
He maintained that the government would continue to strengthen preventive measures while ensuring that offenders are held accountable.
“We are saying no to bullying. It is against our educational values, our system and everything we stand for. We cannot build a strong educational system where bullying is allowed to thrive,” he added.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Sustainable Solutions for Youths and the Vulnerable Initiative, SSYVI, Ayotola Ilori, called for a coordinated national response involving government, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and the private sector.
Describing bullying as a persistent challenge in Nigerian schools, she urged students to become defenders of victims rather than passive observers.
“I charge everyone today to be upstanders and not bystanders. Keeping quiet is part of the problem. We must all work together to ensure our schools are safe for every child,” she said.
Ilori warned that bullying leaves lasting emotional scars on victims, often resulting in fear, anxiety, trauma, poor academic performance and an unsafe learning environment.
She identified verbal, physical, social and cyber bullying as the major forms of the menace confronting students, stressing that deliberate efforts must be made to eliminate all of them.
“Our organisation is committed to safeguarding children and supporting initiatives that promote violence-free schools. Bullying is a deliberate act aimed at bringing another person down, and it must not be tolerated,” she added.
The Africa Principals Conference Initiative also threw its weight behind the government’s anti-bullying campaign.
Its representative, Ayodele Joseph, described the workshop as timely and pledged the support of school administrators in implementing the policy across educational institutions.
He said principals across the country would work closely with relevant authorities to ensure the anti-bullying policy is fully domesticated and enforced in schools, creating a culture of respect, inclusion and safety for all learners.
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