A case of involuntary manslaughter and negligence has been established against Chrisland High School Ikeja, according to the Lagos ministry of justice, following the death of Whitney Adeniran.
Whitney died on February 9 at Agege Stadium during a sporting event.
Blessing Adeniran, her mother accused the school of withholding information about her daughter’s death.
Lagos state ministry of education ordered the school’s temporary closure awaiting an inquiry.
Recent reports of violence, negligence, and bullying in Nigerian schools are rising.
Safety of Children
The violent killing of 5-year-old Hanifa Abubakar by her school proprietor, the kidnapping of the Chibok and Dapchi girls in 2014 and 2018, and subsequent kidnappings of school students have all been deeply traumatic for Nigerians.
The death of Sylvester Oromoni in 2021, purportedly as a result of bullying at Dowen College in Lagos, stunned the nation, and the death of Whitney Adeniran is another reminder of the lack of protection for children in schools.
These tragedies emphasized the critical need for schools to take responsibility for students’ safety. It is time to take action and make schools safe places to learn.
Parents have the right to expect schools to be accountable and transparent.
It is unacceptable for schools to suppress information or minimize occurrences that endanger students.
Schools must have clear procedures in place for dealing with issues and communicating these with parents.
The government must also tighten regulations and hold schools accountable for their conduct.
Safety audits should be performed on a regular basis to detect and eliminate potential risk factors before another tragedy occurs.
Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu; Editing by Saadatu Albasir