Between May 12 and May 14, 2026, forty-seven professionals from five African countries convened in Abuja, Nigeria, for a state-to-state exchange on the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD). Co-hosted by the Government of Nigeria, Save the Children, and the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), and supported by Norway and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the exchange successfully facilitated a practical, policy-driven dialogue. The event aimed to translate the SSD from high-level commitments into practical, operational realities in conflict-affected regions. Amidst a critical global context of approximately 6,000 attacks on education recorded between 2022 and 2023, according to GCPEA’s Education under Attack 2024, participants underscored the urgent need to integrate child protection into regional frameworks.

Excellencies Svein Bæra and Jainaba Jagne with the Save the Children Deputy Director and School Protection Squad members headed by CP Dr. Abayomi Shogunle. 

The exchange brought together delegations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Somalia, and Nigeria, alongside representatives from the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian Education Cluster. High-level attendees included H.E. Svein Bæra, Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, and H.E. Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, AU Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict.

“Collaborative investments are necessary to ensure the current generation grows into leaders capable of safeguarding the future.”
— H.E. Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, AU Special Envoy

As the host nation, Nigeria showcased its national framework that has decisively shifted from a reactive posture to a strategy rooted in prevention, deep community engagement, and multi-agency coordination. Delegates participated in institutional visits to the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) and the National Police Force School Protection Squad. Officials demonstrated digital reporting and early warning platforms, including the “VG School” mobile and N-Alert applications, which allow teachers and students to send immediate, discreet alerts, thereby decentralizing reporting and i-EARS which allows the tracking of security forces deployed on the ground. At the Federal Ministry of Education, participants learned about the “Early Warning Handbook” and the mandate for schools to establish formal Safe Schools Response Teams. The sessions also facilitated frank debates on security tactics between the state delegates, military and police representatives, reflecting a system actively grappling with complex, real-world challenges.

Interactive discussions on Threat Escalation Protocols at the NSSRCC.

The peer-to-peer format allowed visiting delegations to share their progress and operational realities. Somalia highlighted its 2025 Roadmap and screening protocols for security forces. The DRC presented achievements in securing school releases and improving data systems, despite the severe impact of insecurity and displacement. Mozambique shared its strategy for utilizing temporary learning spaces and disaster-risk school committees to maintain the continuity of learning during crises.

Bilateral sessions provided focused opportunities for peer learning.

The exchange concluded with clear, actionable takeaways to advance regional implementation. Key strategic next steps include contextualizing the SSD within African Union frameworks, institutionalizing data sharing across state networks, and securing dedicated national budgets alongside robust legal frameworks to criminalize attacks on education and end impunity.

The exchange reinforced both a shared commitment to building resilient education systems as well as the value of peer exchange in advancing implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration across the region.

The three-day exchange successfully concluded, reinforcing the commitment to protecting education.