By Adesina Wahab 

There is need for the formulation of a national policy to tackle bullying in schools and work places, as research has shown that almost 12 per cent of students experience one form of bullying or the other.

The Founder, African Top Schools Awards, Mr Joseph Ayodele, who has also done a lot of work on bullying in schools, said the menace is more rampant than imagined.

Also, Ayodele commended the Federal Government for setting up an anti-bullying committee to look into the issue in schools.

“There is need for national policy on bullying in schools and even in work places. Most people being bullied don’t want to speak out and report appropriately. That is why the Minister of Education is seeking anonymous ways to report. It is a good and welcome development. Most schools will tell you they don’t have bullying issues, meanwhile, they do.

“Some schools will even say they have zero-tolerance for bullying, but when you press them further, they would open up. Name calling is also part of bullying. There’s  practically no school where there is no name calling. Students call themselves names and they even call their teachers and vice versa. 

“Last year, we collaborated with the Federal Government and we reached out to more than 10,000 students during our National Week of Action Against Bullying and Violence in Schools. The government commended our initiative. We also wrote a book on it and we are happy that some of the things we recommended and suggested are being implemented,” he said.

Recall that the Federal Ministry of Education has set up a seven-member committee to address bullying incidents in all Nigerian schools. 

The ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, in a statement on Tuesday, said the action reinforced government’s commitment to student welfare and a safe learning environment.

She said the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, while setting up the committee, “emphasized the urgent need for effective interventions, citing the psychological impact of bullying on students. 

“The committee will review reported cases and ensure swift action, complementing the 21-member team working on a National Policy on Anti-Bullying,“ the statement added. 

According to the statement: “To facilitate confidential reporting, the ministry has introduced a hotline, an email and a WhatsApp. 

“Dr. Alausa reiterated the Ministry’s zero-tolerance stance on bullying, urging school administrators, teachers, parents, and students to support this initiative.

This aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritizing education as a driver of national development,” it further read.