•••Performs ground-breaking ceremony of Mohamadu Buhari law faculty building
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – Senator Godswill Akpabio, Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, has said that national security can only be achieved through concerted efforts and strategic collaborations with relevant stakeholders across different sectors, especially the education sector.
He reiterated that provision of security is the most valuable objective that a serious government must achieve for its people.
Akpabio stated this on Friday, while delivering A Pre-Convocation Lecture during the Fifth and Sixth (combined) Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University of Dutsin- Ma, Katsina State, titled, “Impact Of Security On Education And Sustainable Development In Nigeria”
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary Jackson Udom, on Saturday, November 27, 2021, quoted him to have said that, “To a large extent, the synergy between security and education impacts substantially on the quantum and quality of development achievable in any organized society. National security is the first duty of every government, but education is the foundation of every nation. Where we are today is the fruit of our investment in education yesterday. And where Nigeria will be tomorrow is the fruit of what we invest in education today.”
The Minister said further, ” The developed countries got to where they are through early recognition and sustained support for education as the driver of national development. This is why my first policy as the governor of Akwa Ibom State was to implement free and compulsory education from Primary to Secondary School levels for all Nigerian children irrespective of state of origin, tribe or religion resident in Akwa Ibom State throughout my tenure.”
” Like education, so is security a key plank of national development. No society can progress in an environment of chaos and insecurity. Governments exist primarily to promote the welfare of citizens, protecting lives and property under a sure social environment. Where a nation, through the failure of leadership, has descended into a season of anarchy, brigandage, lawlessness and anomie, no development of any sort can be sustained, ” he stressed.”
He noted that “working in synergy with different segments of society in eradicating illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, hunger and massive unemployment is equally important for not just development but a sustainable one, adding, let me re- emphasize that national security and education have a symbiotic relationship. Like Mark Hatfield, an American politician said, ‘ unless we have a well- educated people, we are vulnerable on our national security.”
According to the former Senate Minority Leader, ” the present administration took over a near eclipse of nationhood in many sectors, but most pronounced was the eclipse of the security architecture. The security challenges were vigorously pursued by the President Muhammadu Buhari- administration. Significant gains have been recorded since then as many of the territories held by terrorist groups have been taken back by our armed forces.
“In a nutshell, there is compelling need for a synergy between liberal education, vocational and entrepreneurship education. Religious crisis, drug addiction, secret cults, armed robbery in higher institutions are either instigated or practiced and aided by the products of the system. The high rate of unemployment among youths attests to the faulty premise of the Nigerian educational system which is being reinvigorated by the present administration.”
Akpabio also performed the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Mohamadu Buhari- Faculty of Law Building, at the permanent site of the institution.
He described the ceremony as a honour for the president, who according to him, “has shown respect and love Nigerians and the rule of law.”