The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has partnered with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the International Academy for Gender and Peace (IAGP) to strengthen security management and improve safety across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The partnership was unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday as the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, opened a four-day specialised workshop on Campus Security Management for 600 Chief Security Officers (CSOs) drawn from tertiary institutions across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Audi said the initiative had become necessary amid the growing security threats confronting campuses, including cultism, violent extremism, kidnapping, gender-based violence, cybercrime, drug abuse and campus unrest.
He warned that broader societal security challenges were increasingly infiltrating academic environments, noting that some individuals who later became involved in serious crimes, including banditry and kidnapping, had reportedly begun their criminal activities on campuses.
The NSCDC chief charged participating CSOs to adopt proactive and intelligence-led approaches to campus security while continuously updating their knowledge and skills to keep pace with emerging threats.
He urged the security officers to remain vigilant and committed to protecting lives and property, while ensuring that their operations respect the fundamental human rights of students and staff.
The Course Director and President of IAGP, Prof. Frederick Tyoor, said the workshop was designed to equip campus security personnel with contemporary skills for identifying vulnerabilities and addressing them before they escalate into major security incidents.
Tyoor underscored the importance of intelligence gathering and the effective use of security information, stressing that timely and actionable intelligence could help security personnel neutralise threats before they materialise.
Representing the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sunny Echono, Dr Yusuf Gamawa reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to initiatives aimed at providing safe, secure and conducive learning environments in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
A goodwill message was also delivered by Prof. Bilyaminu Muhammed, Professor of Demography and Industrial Sociology at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
The four-day workshop brings together experts from academic institutions and security agencies to train participants on contemporary strategies for campus security management.
The organisers said the initiative would enhance the capacity of Chief Security Officers to anticipate, prevent and respond effectively to security threats, while promoting safer learning environments across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
