The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are advancing plans to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will significantly bolster security protocols across Nigeria's tertiary education institutions. This strategic collaboration aims to create a safer environment for students, academic staff, and administrative personnel throughout the nation's higher education landscape.
Strengthening Institutional Security Frameworks
During a high-level meeting in Abuja, TETFund's Executive Secretary, Architect Sonny Echono, welcomed the NSCDC delegation led by Commandant General Professor Ahmed Audi. Echono emphasized that security challenges affecting campuses have reached a critical point that demands coordinated intervention from multiple agencies. He articulated that security should be viewed not merely as a policing concern but as a fundamental structural component essential for sustainable educational outcomes and institutional stability.
Proactive Security Measures and Intelligence Gathering
The proposed partnership will focus on several key areas including intelligence gathering mechanisms, emergency response protocols, and protection of critical educational infrastructure. Echono highlighted that proactive engagement with the NSCDC would enable tertiary institutions to implement preventive security measures rather than reactive responses. He noted that security achievements often remain unnoticed while lapses receive disproportionate attention, underscoring the importance of this behind-the-scenes collaboration.
"The issue of security is paramount to us at TETFund and the entire education sector," Echono stated. "We want to assure Nigerian citizens and all tertiary institutions that this represents the beginning of concerted efforts to collaborate with NSCDC in implementing measures that guarantee safety for students, lecturers, and education providers across all our higher education institutions."
Capacity Building and Training Initiatives
Commandant General Professor Ahmed Audi emphasized the crucial role of structured collaboration in training and capacity development for private security personnel responsible for internal security within tertiary institutions. He explained that the NSCDC currently operates six accredited training institutions nationwide dedicated to equipping private security guards with necessary knowledge, discipline, and operational competence.
Standardizing Security Protocols
Audi noted that a formal partnership with TETFund would help standardize training programs, improve oversight mechanisms, and provide sustained support for capacity building within the security sector. He stressed that strengthening the skills and professionalism of campus security guards would significantly enhance safety on campuses while complementing the efforts of public security agencies.
"Such collaboration will lead to better coordination, adherence to best practices, and a more robust security framework capable of safeguarding students, staff, and infrastructure across Nigeria's tertiary education system," Audi explained.
Integrating Security into Educational Policy
Echono drew attention to the inclusion of security as a distinct thematic focus within the National Research Fund granting committee, indicating a growing recognition of security's importance in academic contexts. He also acknowledged the existing partnership between education stakeholders and security agencies within the framework of the Safe Schools Initiative, describing it as an enduring though often unheralded collaboration.
The TETFund executive secretary underscored the need to include security agencies in disbursement guidelines, recognizing the central role of civil defense in addressing security issues within tertiary institutions. This partnership represents part of TETFund's broader commitment to creating secure and conducive learning environments that support academic excellence and institutional stability throughout Nigeria's higher education sector.
