🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Federal Government launches hotlines and WhatsApp channel to combat school bullying
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Federal Government has introduced emergency hotlines and a WhatsApp channel for reporting school bullying cases, following a Stakeholders Consultative Dialogue on Anti-Bullying in Schools organized by International Alert Nigeria in Abuja. The initiative aims to address the widespread issue of bullying in Nigerian schools, where studies indicate 70 to 85 percent of students have experienced it. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, represented by Assistant Director Gender, Augustina Apakasa, announced the ministry's reporting channels: 09012660044 for calls, 08052536133 for WhatsApp messages, and antibullying@education.gov.ng for emails. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, represented by Director, Violence Against Persons Prohibition, Rebecca Enwusoyele, also provided a toll-free short code, 627, and an email address, @naptip.com.gov, noting that while bullying is not explicitly mentioned in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, sections on intimidation, threat, and placing someone in fear can be applied. The National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, represented by Special Assistant Adebola Adeoye, also urged the public to use its hotline, 09131232323. Programme Manager of International Alert Nigeria, Sunday Jimoh, stated that a communiqué and advocacy note would be produced to engage policymakers on the implementation of existing anti-bullying legislation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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