Don says education solution to nation’s security challenges
NAN-DS-10
Education
By Yahaya Isah
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Mande Samaila of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) said proper and quality education of youths would solve the current security challenges facing the country.
He made the statement at a Book Launch at the National Defence College on Thursday in Abuja.
Samaila, who was the reviewer of the book, Tagged: “African Cowboys:’’ Boko Halal’’, said that the launching of the book was timely.
He said the book could be used as a tool to effectively solve some of the social problems that the country was facing today.
The Don said that the contents of the book were enough to reshape the mindset of the youth as well as reduce the menace of youth restiveness in the society.
“If youths are enrolled in schools and other meaningful ventures, hardly will they be used as instruments of destruction,’’ he said.
Samaila noted that the problems that had bedeviled the country were thoroughly discussed in the book, urging parents to get copies for the benefit of their children.
He said that the book would also serve as a vital tool for combating terrorism and other criminal activities in the country.
He recalled that in the past, the kind of perception people had about education in the country, especially in the North, was that whoever embraced education, that person would be seen as an agent of Westernisation.
“So, that kind of wrong impression we had, is part of the problems we are facing today.
“The Boko Haram is a typical example of those who are against western education, whether we like it or not,’’ Samaila said.
He called on the parents and the relevant agencies to embark on serious enlightenment campaign about the importance of education to humanity.
He also called on stakeholders to do everything within their power to take school age children out of the streets and engage them in meaningful ventures.
In a remark, the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Adm. Samuel Alade, who was represented by the Coordinator Officer of the college, Col. Omotosho Ariyo, commended the Author for “such a beautiful work’’.
Ariyo said that such a good book written by a rating officer would go a long way in promoting the Armed Forces.
He said that the book would also serve as a solution to the security challenges facing the country as the content was basically on education, and that with education, insecurity would be reduced.
The Author, Staff Sgt.- in the Nigerian Navy, Darwood Abdulkareem, said his people’s hatred for western education prompted him to research and write the book.
Abdulkarim said with education the present security challenges facing the country could be solved.
He urged parents to send their children to school in order to be become useful members of the society.
The Writer also called on the Federal Government to make education affordable to Nigerians to rid the country of crimes.(NAN)
YI/JPE/AMY
Edited by Joseph Edeh and Abdullahi Yusuf