Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has called on Nigerian Army to evolve proactive security measures that will improve schools’ safety in the country.
Tambuwal made the call at the inauguration of second Nigerian Army Corps Education summit with theme: “Education Development and National Security: Issues and way forward” on Wednesday in Sokoto.
He noted that security challenges had constituted hitches to educational system due to students’ kidnapping and other associated crimes.
Tambuwal described the summit as apt, stressing the need for stakeholders to digest issues and provide solutions to security challenges, especially those affecting educational growth and development.
In his remark, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, urged stakeholders to provide ways of discouraging religious extremism among Nigerians.
Abubakar said that religious extremism is among the backbone of all restiveness ensured in the country.
He noted that proper education and good understanding of religious teachings would surely end extremism.
He urged educators, preachers and educational planners to improve ways of reaching young students against all forms of extremism as well as breed quality students with good visions for the nation interest and it’s people.
“Education system is a viable area to tackle religious extremism, negative thoughts and issues detrimental to human growth and proper moral teachings.
“I encourage stakeholders to facilitate provision of functional educational system where graduates can be self-reliant not only pursuing it for office jobs,” Abubakar said.
The special guest of the ocassion, the Minister of Defence, retired Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi, commended Nigerian Army for rejuvenating programmes towards improving educational standards and public consciousness in the nation’s interest.
Magashi, who was represented by ministry’s director of Army Affairs, Mr Sunday Musa, restated the federal government’s commitment to safeguarding educational system.
Earlier, in his keynote, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, said that the summit was part of army commitments towards reviewing Nigerian Army Education Corps’ performance.
Yahaya said that the army remains resolute to the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
He reiterated that Nigerian Army placed high premium on education which has manifested by establishment of Nigerian Army University as well as transforming Nigerian Army School of Education to Nigerian Army Institute of Science Education and Technology.
A member of House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Alhaji Balarabe Kakale, called for more efforts towards reducing out of school children as well as measures to tackle Almajiri Qur’anic education system.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Army, Mr Abdulrazak Namdas, emirs of Argungu and Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera and Alhaji Sanusi Asha, respectively.