Security: Group builds community volunteers’ capacity in Ebonyi, donates basic equipment

In furtherance of its transformative Education project in Ebonyi state, a Nongovernmental organization, Whisper to Humanity Foundation, has concluded the training of over 50 community-based vigilantes, youth volunteers and some teachers to help provide needed security in focal schools and their communities.

 

The training which lasted for about two weeks, two days per community, was pioneered in 5 communities out of the 16 pilot communities and schools of the Organisation’s transformative education project in the state.

 

It also incorporated grooming of the trainees on Gender-Based Violence prevention and response, especially in schools environment.

 

Component of the training also was the donation of starter-packs of basic security gadgets and assessories valued at over N5 million to the trainees by the foundation.

 

Some of the items contained in the Starter-packs include mobile radio phones (Walkie talkies), branded T-shirts and identity cards; Torch lights, whistle, safety boots, rain coats, Whistles and ropes, among others.

 

Trainees were also equipped with the list of GBV referral facilities in their various LGAs.

 

The Organisation, Whisper to Humanity had through its transformative Education project started in 2024, built capacities of teachers and students on the play approach to teaching and learning, donated many games/play equipments as well as established and equipped play centres in over 16 schools across Ebonyi state, among other innovations.

 

Speaking to newsmen during the kick-off of the training in Government Secondary School, Okposi, Ohaozara local government area, the Executive Director, Whisper to Humanity Foundation, Maryjacobs Okwuosa, said the training was a response to needs assessment conducted in the schools by the Organisation as part of activities in its transformative education project.

 

She explained: “We started our activities on Transformative Education project last two years in the state.

 

“Through this process we started identifying other key issues that were systematic problems in the communities that can hinder the transformative Education that we are building, one of which is lack of basic security in the schools.

 

“In some of the schools, we discovered that the play rooms were burgled and some of the play materials and equipment we donated got missing.

 

“This gave us the real question about the security of the school spaces which was part of the findings of our needs assessment in 2025.

 

“While we await the government to put up perimeter fencing of schools and employ formal professional security personnel in line with our robust engagement with the Ministry of Education, we decided to also engage with the communities on how to internally sustain and secure their school spaces within their individual communities.

 

“This move gave birth to the involvement of community- based vigilantes, teachers and security youth volunteers in this basic training”.

 

Okwuosa said the training is aimed at building trainees capacity on basic security tips, improve relationship with the Police as well as help them understand the tenets of their job and the limits of their authority among other things.

 

“The training is also to expose them to referral pathways, centres and networks to effectively respond to gender-based violence which we also identified in most schools”, she added.

 

Vigilantes involved in the training include Mgbalukwu community in Izzi, Okposi and Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara, Ozziza in Afikpo LGA, and Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA, while the focal schools are State Special Secondary School in Opefia Izzi, Government Secondary School, Okposi and Ugwulangwu Secondary School in Ohaozara; Onomike Grammer School in Ozziza Afikpo and Izzi High School, Ishieke in Ebonyi LGA.

 

The Executive Director expressed hope that the training would be expanded to the other communities in due course.

 

Some of the trainees including community vigilante leaders and volunteers: Ogbonnaya Obasi Eke and Friday Okorie of Okposi, as well as Christopher Nwuzor of Opefia, Mgbalukwu community expressed their appreciation for the training, pledging to employ the added knowledge to improve security in their communities.

 

Similarly, some of the Whisper school project coordinating teachers: Hillary Nwigwe of Ugwulangwu Secondary School, Samuel Obaji of government secondary school, Okposi; Magdalene Nwaji of the Special Secondary school, Opefia, and the school’s Vice Principal, Christian Ofoke, said the training has enriched their skills and knowledge tremendously.

 

Nwaji confirmed that their school faces security threats, having no perimeter fencing.

 

She appreciated Whisper to Humanity for the initiative, and expressed optimism that it would improve the security of the school and its environs.

 

Ofoke added: “In fact, I learnt a lot from this training.

 

“Before, I used to think that it is only women and girls that can be raped but now I understand that even men and boys can also be raped.

 

Resource persons at the training: Benedict Essong, Public Health consultant, and a patrol and guardian officer with the Nigeria Police, Anigor Anigor, among others, took participants on several topics on security, vigilance and GBV response.