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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement has raised a concern about the rising cases of bullying in schools, homes, workplaces, and other places of social gathering.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Sunday Asefon, specifically mentioned that research has revealed that bullying is one the factors responsible for the rising cases of the out-of-school children as well as poor learning outcomes.
He suggested that all relevant stakeholders ranging from the parents, teachers, community and religious leaders, as well as other relevant individuals rise to the occasion and control the rising menace of bullying among the children and even adults.
Asefon, who spoke at the National Stakeholders Summit on Bullying Prevention and Support, organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, in Abuja, yesterday, stated that the Summit was the fallout of the extensive research conducted on bullying in schools and elsewhere, in response to many cases of bullying that ended badly.
He said: “Across Nigeria, today, bullying, whether physical, verbal, psychological, or online, has become a destructive force, and has undermined mental health, disrupted academic performance, and threatened the safety of our learning environments.
“It is no longer a series of isolated incidents or unfortunate elements of school culture, but a national challenge demanding a unified, multi-sectoral response.
“This Summit, themed ‘unite against bullying: a multi-stakeholder approach to legislative and social change’, speaks to both our shared vision and collective action required across government institutions, educational systems, communities, and digital platforms to ensure that every child and student feels protected, valued, and empowered.”
He restated commitment to initiating and expanding the campaign against bullying to more schools within the rural and urban communities, ensuring that more teachers, parents as well as relevant individuals are exposed to the dangers of bullying to the younger ones and even the adults.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, in her remarks, assured participants, particularly students, that the ministry has taken some steps to ensure that school children are protected from bullying, particularly in the digital space, which is on the increase due to increasing access to digital tools.
She stated that bullying is a threat to learners, and it’s completely unacceptable to the government, making reference to the National Anti-bullying Policy Document launched in May this year, that contains recommendations on how best to tackle the evolving bullying, particularly in the digital spaces.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, in his submissions, recommended that the campaign against bullying be taken down to the rural areas, targeting all levels of the education system, starting with primary schools.
He assured the youths that the government is committed to any cause that would herald improved opportunities for them, urging to buy into the activities of the government that was designed to better their lives.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Tanko Sununu, challenged the youths to rise to the occasion of changing the fortune of Nigeria by avoiding unhealthy characters.
Meanwhile, there was a unanimous declaration and commitment from students, NYSC members and other stakeholders that attended the summit that “enough is enough, and that no child should suffer in silence, nor should parents be afraid to send their children to school due to signs and cases of bullying.
“This is not just a summit. It is a national call to action. The beginning of a movement where Nigeria boldly declares: ‘We will no longer tolerate bullying. We will protect. We will support you. We will reform. So, let us stand together now and always unite against bullying’,” they said.
