Location: Aduwawa Secondary School, Aduwawa Community, Benin City, Edo State
Date of Implementation: Phase 1: 11 July 2025 Phase 2: 18 July 2025
Program: TRANSFORM — Transforming Learning Environments
Stakeholders Engaged: School management, teachers, students, community leaders, old students association, and community members
During ALP’s assessment of Aduwawa Secondary School, significant concerns emerged regarding theft and vandalism affecting the school’s infrastructure. These acts have directly impacted learning and school operations, damaging facilities that students and teachers depend on daily.
The school had experienced the removal of iron pillars from structural parts of the building, vandalism of the once-functional laboratory, theft of water tanks and taps, and unauthorized use of toilet facilities by individuals gaining access to the premises at night.
This situation underscored the need for a community-wide response to protect school property and ensure a conducive learning environment for students.
The objectives of this campaign were to:
The campaign was implemented in two phases:
Community Sensitization Visit (11 July 2025)
The African Literacy Project team visited the residence of the Aduwawa Community Head, Ohen Obaro Odomore, to introduce the campaign and invite community participation.
Eleven individuals were present, including six ALP representatives, a school representative, the Community Head, and four community members.
The ALP Program Officer, Lucy Isibor, introduced the organization and its mission. The Moderator, Lucky Ehimamiegho, presented the Guard Our School campaign and extended a formal invitation to the main sensitization event.
The Community Head expressed appreciation for the initiative and pledged to mobilize community attendance.
Main Sensitization Event (18 July 2025)
The main event was held at Aduwawa Senior Secondary School Hall from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.
Attendees included 7 ALP team members, the Community Head and 3 community representatives, 4 members of the Old Students Association (including President Bishop Egbu Prince Philip), 8 students, and 13 school staff including Principal Comr. (Mrs) Violet Ojemolon and Vice Principal Mrs P. Osarenren.
The program included welcome remarks, anthems led by students, an address on behalf of the ALP founder, a principal’s address highlighting security challenges, and a project overview presentation.
Students performed a short talk show illustrating the causes, effects, and solutions to theft and vandalism.
The principal led participants on a tour of the school premises to view areas affected by theft and vandalism, including removed iron pillars, the vandalized laboratory, stolen water tanks, and compromised toilet facilities.
An open discussion followed where participants shared suggestions, including seeking government support for fencing, reinforcing anti-vandalism messages during community meetings, and mobilizing communal action for school protection.
Community Response
The Community Head pledged full support, committing to take steps toward fencing the school before year-end and deploying more vigilantes to patrol the premises at night.
Street Awareness Campaign
Following the main event, the ALP team extended sensitization into the streets of Aduwawa community, distributing flyers and engaging community members in conversations about protecting school property.
Phase 1: 6 ALP representatives (Program Officer, Moderator, Photographer, 3 Volunteers) 1 school representative Community Head and 4 community members
Phase 2: 7 ALP team members Community Head and 3 community representatives 4 Old Students Association members 8 students 13 school staff
Community awareness raised on the impact of theft and vandalism on school infrastructure.
Formal commitment secured from the Community Head to fence the school and increase night patrols.
Stakeholder buy-in achieved from school management, teachers, students, old students association, and community leadership.
Street-level sensitization conducted to extend awareness beyond the school premises.
Strengthened collaboration between the school and community on infrastructure protection.
Aduwawa Secondary School is a mixed public secondary school located in Aduwawa community, Benin City, Edo State. Established in 1981, the school has continued to serve the educational needs of families within the community and its surrounding areas.
The senior secondary section offers academic pathways in Science, Social Science, and Arts. The school currently has a total student population of 486 students, comprising 204 males and 282 females, supported by a team of 21 teachers.
In 2013, the school won the Adams Oshiomhole Award for academic excellence. In 2025, the school emerged as first runner-up in a mathematics competition organized by the Mathematics Association of Nigeria and won the Governor’s Cup in football.
The Guard Our School: Say No to Theft & Vandalism campaign successfully mobilized community support for protecting school infrastructure at Aduwawa Secondary School.
The engagement of school management, teachers, students, community leadership, and the old students association demonstrates the value of collective action in addressing challenges affecting learning environments.
ALP looks forward to continued collaboration with the school and community to implement sustainable interventions that support quality education.
Your contribution can help ALP protect and improve learning environments in more schools. Partner with us or donate to support school-centered interventions.
