AASU Calls for Campus Safety on Int’l Day for Protection of Education from Attack

In celebration of this year’s United Nations International Day for ‘Protection of Education from Attack’, the All-Africa Students’ Union (AASU) has called for campus safety across all education institutions in Africa.

This was issued in a press statement made available to newsmen by the President of All-Africa Students’ Union, Mr. Osisiogu Osikenyi E., on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

“The United Nations General Assembly UNGA in 2020 established by a unanimous decision – The International Day for Protection of Education from Attack – September 9 each year as an International Observance to draw attention to attacks on Students, Teachers, and Education Institutions during Armed Conflict, the Use of Schools for Military purposes as well as efforts aimed at promoting and protecting the Right to Education and facilitating the Continuation of Education in Armed Conflict, including the Safe School Declaration of the AU.”

The union also stressed the need to create awareness as regards insecurity across the education institutions in Africa.

“The All-Africa Students’ Union wishes to commemorate this year’s September 9 with this “Special Press Conference on Campus Safety” with a view to intensifying Awareness on the quagmire of Campus Insecurity in Africa; and some of the successes made so far in places such as the Northeastern Nigeria viz Borno State; and commending Persons and Organizations that have contributed to protecting Education in Africa.

“This is coming on the heels of the UNESCO International Literacy Day (ILD) commemorated yesterday on 8th September 2023 under the theme, promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.”

However, Mr. Osikenyi maintained that world leaders, experts, advocates, civil society and youth representatives such as the All-Africa Students’ Union (AASU) are in support and united against attacks on education; thereby focusing on the need to strengthen prevention mechanisms, protect vulnerable populations and enhance accountability mechanisms and access to justice.

He stated: “Gentlemen of the Press, I wish to depend on my previous Statements on Campus Insecurity in Africa, Reports on my Presidential Working Visits to the Tigray Region of Ethiopia(July 2023); Kasese Region in Uganda(June 2023), etcetera to drive home the need to protect places of Learning in Africa.

“As we speak – Out-of-School-Children in Africa has hit over 100million with Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan and others topping the Global figures; And sadly, this quagmire is rapidly aggravated by Armed Conflicts, Insecurity, and Political Instability across the Continent often characterized by deliberate attacks on Education Institutions.”

The president went further to point out that; “Today, South Sudan has the world’s highest proportion of out-of-school children in the world, with 72 percent of primary-aged children out of school; and Sudan is still embroiled in Political Crisis that have Campuses closed and in some cases, conversion of Campuses to Concentration Camps by military forces.

“In the East African region, Kenya is coping with terrorism instigated by Al-Shabaab from neighboring Somalia; with Education Institutions not being spared such as the attack on Garissa University, Kenya – the deadliest assault – killing at least 147 people. You may also recall that recently in the night of Friday 16th June 2023, Lhubiriha Secondary School, in Southwestern border town of Mpondwe, Kasese district was attacked by assailants killing over 40 people.”

He noted that conflict disrupted education in Ethiopia between 2020 and 2022, saying: “In Ethiopia, The Tigray Armed Conflict that lasted from 3rd November 2020 immediately after COVID-19 Lockdown to 3rd November 2022 in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between the Ethiopian Federal Government and Eritrea on one side, and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the other left Education Institutions in the entire Region closed for over 3years, destroying over 7,000 schools and about 1.4million students unable to go to school.

“We applaud the “Pretoria Agreement for Permanent Cessation of Hostilities” even as we call for help for reconstruction of Schools in Tigray Region to resume fully and rehabilitation of students and teachers who were forcefully conscripted into the military.”

He also mentioned that some West African countries that have been faced with challenges, thereby talking a toll on their education.

“The West African region especially countries on the Chad Basin is experiencing the issues of Terrorism and Political instability, particularly, in countries such as Nigeria and Niger that share common borders with neighboring Chad and Cameroon in the Lake Chad Basin region.”

The statement added: “According to UNICEF, over 11,100 schools were closed due to conflict or threats made against teachers and students in the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.”

Meanwhile, in what he tagged as ‘Special Demands’, which are two in numbers, he revealed that; :”The Africa Union (AU) must begin to walk-the-talk on the AU Safe School Declaration while we urge Member States to sign the Treaty without any further hesitations; giving political commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict.”

Also, “We are glad to note that the days that Borno State used to be the epicenter of spree of attacks on Education Institutions are gradually been confined to the Dustbin of the forgetful past – under the sterling leadership of H.E. Prof. Banagana Zulum – the Governor of Borno State.”

The union went further to say that they will follow the model of Borno State Government in eradicating attacks on education institutions in Africa.

“We specially recommend ‘Institutionalized Approach’ adopted by the Borno State Government ranging from the era of H.E. Senator Kashim Shettima (now Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) as then Governor and consolidated by the present administration of H.E. Prof Babagana Zulum.

“Indeed, these Institutions have made concerted efforts at curbing attacks on Education Institutions and drastically mitigated the population of out-of-school children in the past few years; becoming a positive Reference Point in Africa for Protection of Education.”

As a result, the All-Africa Students’ Union lauded the Borno State Government for its impact in education in the state, stating that; “We therefore commend the Borno State Government of North Eastern Nigeria for the remarkable improvements in Campus Safety through the concerted efforts of Agencies in Borno State such as; The Ministry of Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), led by Engr. Ibrahim Idris Garba; The Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation led by Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe.”

Other feats included are; “Borno Education Trust Fund led by Dr. Yaumi Maina; Borno Security Trust Fund led by Ali Shettima Marte; Borno Agency for Coordination of Sustainable Dev’t & Humanitarian Response led by Dr. Babakura Mamman Gadai; Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS), led by Adam Bababe; Borno State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) led by Prof. Bulama Kagu; and Borno State Civil Service Commission led by Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio; and several others too numerous to be mentioned in print.

Meanwhile, Mr. Osikenyi heaped praises on the Nigerian Military for the role they have played in combating attacks in learning environments.

“These commendations may be incomplete without commending the gallant efforts of the Nigerian Military especially within the jurisdiction such as Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) now led by Maj Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar; The Borno State Police Command now superintended by CP Yusufu Mohammad Lawan Mohammed; The Department of State Security – Borno State Command; Borno State Multi-Sectorial Crises Recovery Project led by Alhaji Baba Zanna Abdul Karim; The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, (AGILE) Project led by Engr. Ibrahim Baba; and all other Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations` locally and internationally.”

Similarly, the efforts of other stakeholders and journalists were also lauded; “May I also appreciate all other Stakeholders especially Member of the Fourth Estate – The Press; for professionalism, patriotic commitment and informative Reportage that have equally assisted the Global Community in protecting Education from attack.”

In the same vein, AASU expressed displeasure at the killing of a student at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) in Nigeria.

“Before I submit, we wish to condemn the wanton killing of Miss Deborah Atanda within the perimeters of a University Campus – Federal University of Oye-Ekiti; as we align with the stance of the National Association of Nigerian Students to demand justice for her and all other similar cases, as our campuses must become safer.”

AASU concluded in the statement issued by its president saying; “Finally – as we commemorate today’s “United Nations Int’l Day for Protection of Education from Attack” we wish to remind all Global Leaders that far more than any other place – Education in Africa must be protected by concerted means!!! Thank you All.”