Nigeria joins the rest of the world in celebrating 2022 “International Day to Protect Education from Attack”. 
It is an international event established by a unanimous decision of the United Nations General Assembly in 2020. It is observed on September 9 of each year and co-sponsored by 62 countries.
The purpose of the day is to raise awareness regarding the importance of safeguarding schools as places of protection and safety for students and educators, and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.
This day aims to safeguard and shape the future of more than 75 million children in the age group of three to 18 living in 35 countries. It sends a clear message regarding the importance of safeguarding schools and the safety of students, as well as educators and giving the children constant access to education.
UNESCO and UNICEF facilitate the annual observance of the Day, in close collaboration with partners within and outside the UN system. Working on the frontlines in conflict-affected countries, the UN entities have long assisted member states in strengthening their capacity to provide access to quality educational opportunities for all, in times of crisis.
Today, Nigeria celebrates “Implementing the School Safety Policy as a Tool to Protect Education from Attack: Our Collective Responsibility” as this year's theme for the “International Day to Protect Education from Attack”.
As apt as the theme for this year’s commemoration is, coupled with the progress so far made, experts have noted that education challenges still persist, just as the demands for skills required for work evolve rapidly.
The Federal Government has said that it is working closely with security agencies to further ensure the safety of schools and children from attack. The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Goodluck Opiah, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, at a news conference to commemorate the 2022 International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
Opiah said that there was need for stakeholders to protect education from violent situations and armed conflict. 
He said that upholding the right to education and its continuity in such emergency situations as enshrined in the Safe School Declaration, which Nigeria ratified on March 20, 2019, was an action to be taken by all.
“The theme was devised by the ministry to create awareness of the existence of the School Safety Policy and the need for state governments, education institutions and stakeholders, civil society organisations, the military, and the general public to operationalise the guidance therein.”
“The School Safety Policy copiously highlights the strategies for emergency preparedness in education institutions, measures for harm reduction and stakeholders to contact for help in case of imminent attack.
Sadly, it is not strange to an average Nigerian to say that Nigeria pays lip service to education at all levels.
Education is one of the most neglected aspects of our socio-economic life, as many would say. The rampant strikes by teachers, lecturers and other education sectors paint then picture more vividly.
Most importantly, the latest news in the educational sector in Nigeria is the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, which started on February 14, 2022. The union had on August 30th, 2022, declared a total or indefinite strike.
In addition to the frequent sudden disruption of academic activities in schools due to industrial actions, the more worrisome trend is the invasion of schools, abducting teachers, lecturers, learners for ransom, as well as killing some, as the case may be, by bandits and the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists. 
Recall that Leah Sharibu, who is still held, together with many others, was abducted in that manner. It is left for all to see the action being taken by the government to ensure safety of the educational institutions in Nigeria.