The Rivers State Government, through the Ministry of Education, has launched the Safe Schools, Safe Future Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening children’s rights and promoting violence-free learning environments across schools in the state.
The project is being implemented by Solution Social Initiative (SSI), a non-governmental organization, with support from the Global Integration Alliance (GIA), a United States–based organization. The collaboration reflects the project’s alignment with international child rights and education protection frameworks.
The initiative was officially flagged off on January 23, 2026, at Community Secondary School, Igwuruta, Port Harcourt. Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of SSI, Prophet Ede Cyril-Edah, described the programme as the first school-based sensitization initiative of its kind in Rivers State, noting that it marked an important milestone in child protection advocacy.
He explained that the launch coincided with the celebration of International Education Day, stressing the need to safeguard learners alongside academic development. According to him, education should go beyond classroom instruction to include the protection of learners’ rights and their overall well-being.
“Empowering students with human rights knowledge equips them to recognize abuse, seek help responsibly, and contribute to safer communities,” Cyril-Edah said.
He further stated that the Safe Schools, Safe Future Project represents SSI’s preventive and rights-based intervention, designed to strengthen child protection awareness across schools in Rivers State and encourage positive behavior among learners.
In his remarks, the Principal of Community Secondary School, Igwuruta, Mr. Amadi Nwosu, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and relevant to current realities in the education sector.
He reaffirmed the school’s commitment to promoting child rights awareness and safeguarding principles, adding that such engagements reinforce the role of schools as spaces of safety, respect, and holistic development for learners.
The event featured interactive sessions with students, exposing them to their fundamental rights to education, dignity, protection, and participation, in line with Nigeria’s Child Rights Act and international standards guidelines.
