WELA Demands Accountability for Nigeria's Safe Schools Initiative

Women Empower Legal Aid (WELA), led by Chairperson Funmi Falana, has voiced serious concerns regarding the persistent abduction of schoolchildren in Nigeria, despite the establishment of the Safe Schools Initiative nearly a decade ago. The initiative was launched in 2014 following the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls, aiming to improve security in schools and protect students and teachers.

WELA highlights that since the initiative's inception, approximately 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped, with reports indicating around 2,000 students abducted over the last decade. The organization questions the effectiveness of the initiative, which has received a total commitment of $20 million from both the federal government and private sector partners.

WELA demands a comprehensive public account of how these funds have been utilized, the number of schools benefiting from security upgrades, and the outcomes achieved. They urge the federal government to publish a detailed status report on the Safe Schools Initiative, emphasizing that every child has the right to education in a safe environment.