The Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) is set to hold its seventh yearly summit tomorrow (Wednesday) in Lagos, with discussions centred on developing long-term strategies for securing schools, safeguarding learners and teachers, and preserving school infrastructure in the face of rising security threats.

The summit, which will take place at The Providence Hotel, Ikeja, is themed: ‘Schools under threat: From reactive responses to sustainable protection.’

A statement by the association said the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, will deliver the keynote address at the summit, while the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, will serve as Chairman of the occasion.

EWAN Chairman, Mojeed Alabi,said the programme was conceived to shift the national conversation on school safety from ad-hoc reactions after attacks to a structured and adequately funded protection system driven by early warning and preparedness.

Alabi said the impact of attacks on schools extends far beyond the immediate security breach; as such incidents create fear among teachers, anxiety among parents, and prolonged disruption of learning for children.

He explained that the choice of theme was informed by the need to treat school protection as a continuous obligation that demands deliberate planning, financial commitment and clear operational responsibilities.

“Each attack on a school affects more than the people caught in it. It leaves teachers afraid, parents uncertain and learners at risk of losing access to education. We chose this theme because protecting schools must be a continuous responsibility, with clear plans, adequate funding and people who know what to do when warning signs emerge,” he said.

The EWAN Chairman added that schools and government agencies must put in place workable safety structures ahead of crises, instead of responding only when incidents reveal gaps in the system.

“We cannot wait until an incident occurs before asking whether a school has an emergency plan, whether teachers are prepared or whether help can reach those at risk. These questions need answers before an emergency, and the answers must translate into practical protection,” he added.

The summit is expected to deliberate on a range of issues including preventive strategies, early-warning mechanisms, emergency response protocols, community participation in school safety, and the nature of support needed by education workers before, during and after security breaches.

The programme will also assess the role of the media in bringing safety lapses to public attention, maintaining focus on school security issues and ensuring that reporting of security incidents is accurate and responsible.

Among those listed as panelists are the National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Halima Iliya; the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun; Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka; National President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Robert Okorie; and National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba.

Discussions at the summit, according to the organisers, will interrogate the disconnect between government policy pronouncements and budgetary releases on one hand, and the realities faced by school heads, classroom teachers and learners on the other.

The summit will also examine questions of institutional accountability, including the specific roles of federal and state education authorities, security agencies, school proprietors and host communities in preventing attacks and guaranteeing that learning continues even during periods of insecurity.

The event is expected to draw participants from across the education and security sectors, including policymakers, security operatives, school administrators, researchers, development partners and civil society actors.