By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Education Secretariat has declared zero- tolerance on bullying in both secondary and primary schools across the territory.
The Mandate Secretary of FCT Education Secretariat , Dr. Danlami Hayyo on made this declaration on Monday at the Secretariat in Abuja in commemoration and flag-off of the 2025 National Anti- Bullying Campaign Week from 17- 21 November, to sensitize students, teachers, and parents on the disadvantages of bullying and how to make the school environment a safe place for learning.
Speaking at the press conference to commemorate the Stop Bullying campaign, Dr. Hayyo said that the Anti- Bullying campaign with the theme, ” S rene Smart ” Learning to be safe in the Digital Era”, is significant in Nigeria because of the prevalence and effects of bullying and its hidden fear in students.
He said, ” In our schools in the FCT and across Nigeria, this ( bullying) is a real troubling issue—there are reports of intimidation, senior students using force, or theft against juniors, and online harassment. School related violence in all its forms is therefore an infringement of children’s and adolescents right to education and their health.”
While condemning the bad effects said, “Bullying is not simply a harmless joke or teasing. It is repeated behaviour meant to hurt, humiliate, or isolate someone—verbally, physically, and emotionally, or even online (cyberbullying).
He stated that the Anti- Bullying Campaign in schools is a comprehensive initiative “aimed at preventing, identifying and responding to bullying while cultivating a school environment where every student feels safe and is respected.”
According to the Mandate Secretary, the Secretariat has lined up activities to disseminate the stop bullying campaign across schools in the FCT.
Campaign includes teachers educating teachers and all students on what bullying is about, why it is harmful, and how it undermines learning and dignity.
“Teachers and students would be educated on how to promote empathy and understanding of victims to encourage them to speak up without fear or shame.”
Furthermore, educate bystanders on how they should speak up and support victims instead of being silent, and build a culture of respect, kindness, and inclusion in the school environment.”
“Engage in student‑led activities that highlight kindness, respect, and the harm of bullying.”
Teachers, staff, and peer mentors would be trained to recognize and intervene early when bullying occurs, Counselling and support services for victims and for students who bully would be put into effect. behavioural change towards bullying.
“School policies are to be communicated to students, teachers, and parents.”
Dr. Hayyo noted that the school is not just a place of academic learning, but a community of care, where protection, respect, and dignity are foundational, as he emphasized that the responsibility of school owners is to have a functional protection policy.
The Permanent Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs. Joy Okeke said , ” We are going back to schools to dialogue with teachers and students against bullying and to ensure that school environment is very safe for learning “and not an arena for bullying.
Chairman of Association of Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPS, Dr. Jimoh Abiodun who spoke on behalf of relevant stakeholders said that they are committed to ensure that the ( words ) messages of stop bullying in schools will be passed onto both secondary and primary schools, as he condemned bullying is an act where the big ones subject the weaker ones.
The Chairman of the FCT Nigeria Union of Teachers , Abdullahi Shafa noted that the Anti bullying campaign is timely, as he lamented another form of bullying, when that teachers are no longer recognized in the society, and students have taken advantage of the ugly situation.
He lamented situations when parents of children come to school to suppress teachers in the presence of students.
He also complained that the influence of artificial intelligence, AI, another form of bullying is affecting students’ concentration on their studies.
