The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have agreed to collaborate to strengthen security across tertiary institution campuses nationwide.
The partnership follows persistent attacks on schools and incidents of student abductions, despite recent reductions recorded through multi-agency security interventions.
The Commandant General of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to TETFund headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Audi said that although attacks on schools had declined, sustained stakeholder support remained critical to fully addressing security threats in educational institutions.
He said discussions focused on inter-agency collaboration, training of private security guards on campuses, support for NSCDC training institutions, research, and securing Nigeria’s education environment.
Audi described the NSCDC as a key agency in protecting national critical assets and infrastructure, including schools, within Nigeria’s security architecture.
He sought TETFund’s support to upgrade the Corps’ six training institutions, particularly the College of Security Management, Abeokuta, for improved career progression and world-class officer development.
Audi dismissed claims that the Corps had fully overcome school security challenges, noting that attacks historically peaked between 2001 and 2003.
He recalled that the Safe School Initiative emerged after the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, supported by international advocacy and financing.
According to him, recent attacks have reduced to isolated pockets, which he said were under control through coordinated security efforts.
Audi said a national survey showed over 60,000 of Nigeria’s 81,000 schools lacked fencing and security personnel, underscoring manpower limitations.
He stressed that with about 63,000 NSCDC personnel nationwide, school security required a whole-of-society approach.
The Commandant General said security agencies, school authorities, host communities and traditional rulers must collaborate to ensure sustainable campus safety.
Receiving the delegation, TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, commended NSCDC’s role in maintaining national security.
Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s readiness to support initiatives that strengthen the nexus between security and education in Nigeria.
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