Stakeholders demand proactive school security at 7th EWAN Summit

He urged journalists to maintain scrutiny of security interventions even after authorities announce new measures or allocate funds for their implementation.

“When authorities announce new security measures, our reporting should not end with the announcement. When funds are allocated, we should investigate whether they are used as intended, and when investigations produce recommendations, we should return to determine what has changed, because our ultimate objective is not to embarrass institutions, never,” he said.

The remarks highlighted the importance of follow-up reporting in determining whether government commitments translate into tangible improvements in school security.

Such reporting can help establish whether allocated funds are reaching their intended projects, whether recommendations from investigations are being implemented and whether schools are becoming safer for students and staff.

Awoyinfa’s comments also emphasised that accountability journalism should focus on public interest and institutional improvement rather than embarrassment.

Prevention and Collaboration at the Centre of School Safety

The stakeholders’ call for preventive school security highlights the need for a coordinated approach involving government agencies, school administrators, security institutions, communities and the media.

Government authorities and security agencies are central to developing and implementing protection measures, while school leaders and surrounding communities can contribute to identifying risks and strengthening communication around potential threats.

The discussion also placed emphasis on the need to sustain attention on school safety beyond periods immediately following attacks.

For education journalists, this means tracking security policies, investigating spending, questioning gaps in implementation and reporting whether recommendations lead to meaningful changes.

The summit reinforced the view that protecting schools should be treated as an ongoing responsibility rather than an emergency response triggered by each new incident.

The summit had in attendance media professionals, educators, policymakers, decision-makers, and a host of other delegates.