The rising menace of bullying amongst students in primary and post-primary schools is troubling; hence all measures should be taken to nip it in the bud.
This was the summary of the interface and discussion session at a public forum held at the Bishop Howells Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, recently.
The forum facilitated by the Engage Youth Africa Initiative, a pan-African, non-profit, youth-focused organisation, drew participants from different schools, faith-based organisations, and academia.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Gbolahan Pearl Oyelakin, the founder of the Engage Youth Africa Initiative emphasised that the issue of bullying among secondary school students which has become a major crisis must be decisively dealt with.
He expressed the commitment of their organisation towards solving the problem and the need to collaborate and partner with schools in order to help the students remain focused in their academic pursuits. The event included a keynote address and a spelling bee competition.
According to him, there is a need to adequately educate school students, teachers, parents, and the community at large about the different forms of bullying, its adverse effects, and the role each of caregivers and guardians play in preventing it.
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Dr. Oyelakin presented copies of the book titled “A Bully is not a Hero” written by Nomthi Odukoya to the Principal of the School and also to some of the students who participated in the Spelling Bee competition at the event.
Responding, the school Principal, Revd. Kayode Akasho expressed gratitude for such a laudable programme and the book donation by Engage Youth Africa Initiative.
He said they are willing to work with the initiative and also mentioned that the school, teachers, parents and the society at large all have different responsibilities to play in tackling the issue of bullying.
Mr. Chigozie Okoli in his keynote address highlighted the dangers of bullying, noting that it could take the form of physical, verbal, social or relational and cyberbullying.
Fielding questions from journalists, Oyelakin said there was a need to foster a culture of empathy and respect within schools. “This means teaching students not only to tolerate differences but to celebrate them. It means instilling in them the values of kindness, compassion, and standing up for what is right. It means creating opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and understanding, where students can learn to see the world through each other’s eyes.”
Dealing with bullying in schools, he stressed, “is not just about addressing individual incidents or implementing punitive measures. It is about creating a culture of inclusivity that permeates every aspect of school life – from the classroom to the playground, from the hallways to the online world.