…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. 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…
Summary from source