It is now a whole year since the unfortunate bandit attack in Oke Ode, an incident that left painful memories in the hearts of many families and resulted in the tragic loss of lives. One year on, the scars of that incident remain fresh, particularly for parents whose children and wards are students of the Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences, Oke Ode.
As a parent, I must, first and foremost, commend the prompt and decisive response of the Kwara State Government and the management of the College at the time of the incident. The immediate evacuation of students and staff from the danger zone to Ilorin was a necessary and timely intervention that undoubtedly helped to prevent further tragedy.
Equally commendable was the determination of the government and the College management to ensure that the unfortunate security situation did not bring the academic activities of the institution to a standstill. The relocation to Ilorin was handled in a manner that enabled the academic calendar to continue without the kind of disruption that could have seriously affected thousands of students.
However, one year after the incident, there have understandably been growing agitations from different quarters, particularly from members of the Oke Ode host community and other interests, that the College should return to its permanent site. As understandable as this agitation may be, I respectfully appeal to all concerned to consider the matter primarily from the perspective of the safety and survival of the students and staff.
There are salient reasons why, in my humble opinion as a concerned parent, the much-desired return should not be rushed.
The College has more than 2,000 students, with over 90 per cent reportedly being female students. These are young people who deserve the highest possible level of protection from avoidable security risks. Many of them also experienced the psychological trauma associated with the events of last year. Their safety and emotional well-being should therefore remain paramount in every decision concerning their return.
More importantly, reports of kidnapping and other security incidents in and around the Oke Ode axis continue to generate concern. The fact that a year has passed since the previous attack does not, by itself, constitute evidence that the security threat has completely disappeared.
Another important consideration is the location of the College itself. The institution is situated on the outskirts of the host community. This makes the question of access, rapid security intervention and protection of a large population of students particularly important. Until there is sufficient and demonstrable assurance that the lives and property of students, staff and other members of the College community can be adequately protected, returning thousands of students to the location may expose them to unnecessary risk.
For most parents, the current arrangement in Ilorin has provided a measure of relief. We know that our children and wards are presently in an environment where we feel considerably less apprehensive about their safety. Parents can concentrate on their responsibilities while their children concentrate on their studies.
The issue, therefore, should not be presented simply as a contest between those who want the College back in Oke Ode and those who do not. It should be approached as a question of how best to protect human lives while preserving the future of an important state institution.
I sincerely appeal to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, the College management, the Oke Ode host community, traditional leaders, security agencies, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and all other stakeholders to reason together on this matter.
Nobody wishes to deny Oke Ode the presence and benefits of its institution. Indeed, the host community has legitimate interests and expectations. But the safety of more than 2,000 students and members of staff must take precedence over every other consideration.
We must also contemplate the consequences of a premature return. If, God forbid, another serious attack occurs on the College premises after the students have been compelled to return, the consequences could be devastating in terms of loss of lives, injuries, trauma and destruction of property. Beyond the immediate human tragedy, such an occurrence could also have serious regulatory and academic consequences for the institution.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has a responsibility to ensure that nursing education takes place in an environment that meets appropriate standards. A major security incident resulting in the closure or suspension of the College could consequently disrupt the academic programmes of thousands of students and jeopardise years of investment by their families and the government.
That is a risk no responsible parent wants to contemplate.
The current relocation to Ilorin should therefore be viewed not as an abandonment of Oke Ode, but as a temporary safety measure until the conditions necessary for a secure and sustainable return are demonstrably in place.
If the government and other stakeholders can provide verifiable assurances that the security situation has substantially improved, that the College premises and surrounding areas can be effectively protected, and that there are adequate mechanisms for rapid response in the event of an emergency, then the question of returning to Oke Ode can be revisited with greater confidence.
Until then, I respectfully plead with everyone involved to put the safety of the students first.
As a parent, I would rather have my child continue her education safely in Ilorin than have her return prematurely to a location where I would spend every day worrying about whether she would return safely from school.
Life is more precious than location. Education can continue in another safe environment; a life lost cannot be restored.
I therefore appeal to the Kwara State Government, the good people of Oke Ode and all stakeholders to exercise patience, understanding and wisdom. Let us not wait for another tragedy before we realise that prevention is better than mourning.
May God continue to protect our children, the management and staff of the College as well as the people of Oke Ode, and may He grant our leaders the wisdom to take decisions that will preserve both lives and the future of the institution.
Dr Taiwo Akolade, a Concerned Parent.
.jpeg)