A non-governmental organization, the School Anti-Bullying Force, has equipped over 250 school counsellors across Lagos State’s six educational districts with skills to combat bullying effectively.
The training session, held at the University of Lagos, was aimed at fostering a safe learning environment free from bullying, according to the NGO’s founder, Mrs. Mariecollete Kekong.
“The programme is to add to the knowledge these counsellors have. It is to teach them to help children identify bullying, eradicate it, prevent it and stand up against it,” Kekong stated.
She also revealed that the organization was in the process of establishing anti-bullying centres and School Anti-Bullying Force Clubs across Lagos schools.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, she noted that even children with bullying tendencies could be guided to become advocates against it.
“When children are in a house, if they observe that their mum is either hitting their dad or shouting at their dad, they pick up all these behaviours.
“Children don’t listen to what you tell them, but they look at what you do. So they learn from the way you act with people around you, your spouse, your mates, your relatives, and children.
“They learn these behaviours and do it to their peers. Sometimes, it might not be the parents doing it to people around them, it might be parents even bullying their children directly.
“You know when you bully somebody, sometimes the bullied person might become a bully himself or herself,” she said.
Kekong emphasized the importance of teaching counsellors effective listening skills to better support children experiencing bullying.
“Most times, some of these counsellors only know the theoretical part of counselling. However, there is the part where the child needs the one-on-one conversation, where the child will feel heard. That is the skill that we are trying to equip these counsellors with.
“It’s to help school children feel safe to open up to the counsellors and report bullying, wherever it occurs. It is also to teach these counsellors how to listen to these children and help them navigate bullying in schools.”
She further disclosed that the NGO had intervened in over 100 bullying cases across both public and private schools, ensuring proper resolution and rebuilding the confidence of affected children.
“We can treat those cases and we follow them through to the end. We ensure that we help rebuild the child’s confidence. We have also come up with an initiative called the ‘School Anti-Bullying Heroes,’” she added.
Looking ahead, Kekong expressed the NGO’s intention to collaborate with the government to expand anti-bullying centres, making them accessible statewide and, eventually, nationwide.
“I want governments to partner with us so that we can set up those anti-bullying centres across the state and nation.”
Currently using Lagos as a model, she affirmed plans to extend the initiative to other states.
Dr. Rita Kienka from Lagos State Education District 3 reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance stance on bullying.
She explained that trained counsellors were actively working to curb the issue.
Kienka noted that the training included real-life scenarios of bullying and intervention strategies.
She added that in severe cases, affected children could be removed from harmful environments and placed in facilities offering professional support.
She further highlighted that Lagos State has social welfare centres where extreme cases of bullying are handled, ensuring that children receive necessary care and rehabilitation.
To strengthen anti-bullying efforts, Kienka urged the state government to increase the number of trained counsellors in schools.
Speaking on the role of the home environment, educationist and counsellor Mrs. Tolu Fapohunda stressed the importance of parents being mindful of their actions around children.
She also called on teachers to be positive role models, advocating for a compassionate approach in correcting students.
Adding to the discussion, Personal Performance Coach Ope Bankole described bullying as a manifestation of deep-seated insecurities that individuals project onto others.
