Amid rising cases of bullying among students, stakeholders have urged schools, caregivers and education institutions to strictly enforce anti-bullying policies to tackle the menace.

The call was made at a consultative dialogue on anti-bullying organised by International Alert, where participants emphasised the need for schools to strengthen inclusive policies and enforce zero tolerance for bullying, while parents and guardians were encouraged to promote open communication, empathy and moral guidance at home.

They warned that persistent bullying exposes young people to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and social withdrawal, and in some cases pushes victims toward substance abuse as a coping mechanism.

A representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, who was represented by the Assistant Director (Gender), Augustina Apakasa, disclosed that the ministry had established reporting channels under its anti-bullying framework.

She said, “At the Implementation Committee on Anti-Bullying in the Federal Ministry of Education, we have a hotline that you can call. For calls, you can reach us on 09012660044, while another line is available for messages. You can also send emails to [email protected]. Once we receive your complaints, action will be taken.”

The Programme Manager International Alert Sunday Jimoh who represented the Country Director expressed concern over the  alarming rate of bullying in Nigeria and globally saying bullying doesn’t only happen in schools but everywhere .

He said “In fact, Nigeria’s president is one of the most bullied presidents in the world. So bullying doesn’t just reside in school but in sports, in every sphere of society. today’s event brings experts in this field to discuss what has been done by government, by schools, by key stakeholders, see where the gaps are, explore what is important to put on the table, to bring all hands on deck to address these issues.

Jimoh mentioned that their aim is to  galvanize more support in terms of bringing civil society, INGOs, donors, government, every hand that is important to come on deck to  address the menace and look into  the existing  gaps.

Senior Research Fellow, International Education and Development, Open University, UK  Dr Margaret Ebubedike, , said data revealed that bullying remained widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, with between 27 per cent and 50 per cent of children affected.

She pointed out that Nigeria’s situation appears even more severe as more than half of secondary school students report experiencing bullying.

She posited that tackling bullying requires a collective response involving parents, educators, policymakers, and communities. We must come together to think creatively and collaboratively about solutions

Similarly, the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Bello, described bullying as a violation of human rights and called for zero-tolerance policies in schools, stronger parental guidance, and community-driven advocacy.
The representative  of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mrs Henrietta HoldGod  noted that substance abuse among young people is often linked to emotional trauma, including bullying, stressing that preventive efforts must address such root causes.

According to her, victims of bullying are more likely to experience psychological distress and may resort to drug use, adding that safer school environments are critical to building healthier and more resilient communities.

A Behavioural Change Communication expert, Ms Ayotola Ilori, said 32 per cent of Nigerians aged 12 to 17 have experienced bullying, while 85 per cent were either victims, perpetrators, or both.

Ilori stressed that policy development alone was not enough, emphasising the need for system-level integration to ensure effective implementation, particularly in secondary schools across the country.