Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making education the cornerstone of sustainable development, declaring that government will continue to invest in measures that guarantee a safe, secure and conducive learning environment capable of restoring the state’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence.
Governor Mutfwang made the declaration through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Mrs. Kachollom Pyam Gang, while declaring open the 4th Man O’ War Nigeria National Camping Exercise in Jos.
The week-long programme, holding from August 9 to 15, 2026, at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Shere Hills, is themed “Strengthening Community-Based Safe School Framework for a Secure and Resilient Nigeria,” with the sub-theme “Building Safer Schools Through Partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities.” 
Describing the initiative as timely and strategic, the governor disclosed that the Plateau State Government is set to train one thousand security personnel who will be deployed to school communities across the state to strengthen safety and enhance the protection of students, teachers and educational facilities.
He noted that the initiative forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to rebuild confidence in the education sector and create an atmosphere where learning can thrive without fear.
Governor Mutfwang stressed that quality education cannot flourish in an atmosphere of insecurity, adding that his administration remains determined to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that every child in Plateau State has access to safe and inclusive learning spaces.
He commended Man O’ War Nigeria and the Safe School Initiative for championing practical solutions aimed at addressing security challenges confronting schools across the country.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the Safe School Initiative Nigeria, Hajia Halima Ibrahim, said the camping exercise was designed to strengthen the resilience of host communities in protecting schools from security threats.
She described Man O’ War Nigeria as a critical implementation partner whose nationwide presence and grassroots structure have positioned it to drive the objectives of the Safe School Initiative across the federation.
In his remarks, the National Commander of Man O’ War Nigeria, Adedamola Gbenga, explained that the exercise is a national capacity-building programme intended to equip coordinators from all the 774 Local Government Areas of the country with the knowledge, skills and practical strategies required to support the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.
He expressed optimism that participants would return to their various communities better prepared to promote school safety, assuring parents and the public that the training would contribute significantly to creating more secure learning environments ahead of the new academic session.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Safe School Coordinator, Brigadier General G. Shipi (Rtd.), described the collaboration between government agencies and Man O’ War Nigeria as both timely and strategic.
He urged participants to effectively utilise the knowledge acquired during the training to strengthen community-based security structures and foster safer school environments across Nigeria.
The opening ceremony attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services, the Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council, academics, traditional rulers and other partners committed to advancing school safety and improving educational security nationwide.
