Worried by the rising incidents of bullying among school students, Nigeria’s Equality Development and Research Centre (EDR Centre) has declared war against bullying among school students in the country.

The war was declared by the centre with the commencement of in-depth anti-bullying training across schools in the country to foster an environment of respect and diplomacy among students.

EDR centre during an anti-bullying training at Deeper Life High School, Benin City said it will continue monitoring modalities put in place by schools nationwide targeted towards ending bullying.

The training program, put together by the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and drew from proven Scandinavian methods adapted to resonate within the Nigerian school system.

Speaking, founder of EDR Centre, Marsha Nwanne described the training as a hopeful step forward and demonstrates the school’s and partners’ commitment to making Nigerian schools a safe space for all students.

She disclosed that the program is aimed at integrating anti-bullying affirmations into every subject taught at the school, a move she insisted will “instill principles of mutual respect and kindness across all aspects of learning.

According to her, the program is coming at a time when many citizens are recalling the case of Don Davies, a former student at Deeper Life High School’s Uyo branch, who reportedly suffered from severe bullying.

Nwanne noted that the training is based on approaches that have shown significant success in Scandinavia, adding that the body redesigned them to align with the Nigerian context, and the students’ enthusiasm and engagement reflect their understanding of the lessons on respect, compassion, and anti-bullying.

She disclosed that the initiative aims to foster an environment of respect and diplomacy among students and pledged the EDR Centre’s commitment to ongoing support.

Chima Williams, Executive Director of EDEN, expressed his strong support for the initiative, describing it as a crucial step toward eradicating bullying in Nigerian schools.

“We are committed to ending the bullying culture and building safer school environments,” Williams noted.