Child Sex Scandal: NAPTAN commends Lagos for closure of Chrisland Schools, says incident disheartening

*The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria applauds the Lagos State Government for sealing off Chrisland Schools over the alleged child sexual abuse in the institution in order to allow for thorough investigations to commence immediately

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

Amid the festering public debates being generated by the episode involving the elite school, the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has commended the Lagos State Government (LASG) for acting promptly by shutting all branches of Chrisland Schools in the state, following an alleged child sexual scandal among some of its students.

ConsumerConnect had reported the Lagos State Government Monday, April 18, 2022, in a statement directed that all the five Chrisland Schools within the state be closed, in view of a sex video of minor students of the school that went viral on social media platforms.

Chrisland Schools have branches at Lekki, VGC, Idimu, Festac Town and Ikeja, all in Lagos State of Nigeria.

Media sources that said the parents of a 10-year-old girl seen in the said video were insisting that she was raped while on a trip to participate in the World School Games from March 10 to March 13, 2022, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

However, the LASG stated that the closure of Chrisland Schools across the state is to allow for proper investigation.

The State Government also said: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the alleged sexual violence case involving students of Chrisland Schools which occurred in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“It is pertinent to note that all allegations are being investigated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency, whilst the criminal allegations have been escalated to the Commissioner of Police.”

The statememt added: “In view of the allegations, we are committed to ensuring that adequate medical and pscyho social support is provided.

“This is to reassure members of the public of the State Government’s commitment to safety and child protection, especially in ensuring that all child-centered institutions within the state, formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AA08 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme.”

LASG’s decision is a right step in the right direction ─Ogunbanjo, NAPTAN President

Reacting to the Lagos State Government’s action, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Deputy National President of the NAPTAN, applauded the government for the swift move.

Describing the LASG’s decision as a first and right step in the right direction, Chief Ogunbanjo, however, expressed sadness at the development, which according to him, is not in anyway a rape case, as claimed by the mother of the suspended pupil in the viral video.

He told NAN: “I fully support the step taken by LASG; the schools should remain closed. I trust the Lagos State Commissioner for Education in ensuring that thorough investigations commences immediately.

“Honestly, it is a shame and a very sad one. I have watched the video and from what I saw there, it is as a result of poor parenting, indiscipline and improper counselling on sex education.

“There is also administrative deficit, because even though they are children, boys and girls are not supposed to be together in same hotel room, as seen in the video.”

Ogunbanjo further condemned the approach of the Chrisland Schools’ Management on the development, adding, that March this year, they ought to have informed their parents and carried them along straightaway.

He stressed the need  for the issue to be addressed properly, as most people are likely to have negative impression about Chrisland Schools, with over the seven branches of the Schools across the state.

The Deputy National President NAPTAN also noted: “The case of late Sylvester Oromoni of Dowen College, Lekki, is still fresh in people’s memory and now this one, all in private schools.

“I mean it is  disheartening, considering the ages of the students involved.”

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