The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has called on the Nigerian Government to prioritize education for the youths. Kukah stated that this will help to curb the high rate of banditry and insecurity in the country.
This Bishop stated this on Friday, while delivering a lecture at the 42nd Actualization four-day conference of Rotary International, District 9110 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to Kukah, Nigeria is facing banditry and terrorism attacks because of Government’s lack of investment in the education of Nigerian youths.
He attributed the rising security challenges in Nigeria to the consequences of the young generation not having a proper education.
Kukah said, “We are facing the challenges that are the consequences of our children not having education. Now, everybody is fearing bandits. Everybody is fearing Boko Haram. We are reaping today what we sowed yesterday and it will actually grow worse.
“We have millions of children, at least, between 10 and 12 or 15 million, that are on the streets. Who are begging. Each of these children are growing by the day. The Almajiri that is 10 now, in 10 years time, will be 20 years. So, unless we quickly do something the situation may get worse,” he said.
Kukah, therefore, charged philanthropists, religious organizations and other humanitarian organizations to channel their efforts towards combating illiteracy.
He said, “Nigeria must try to combat illiteracy because there is no substitute for education. And if we, who are educated believe that we are secure, then we must think again.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a special guest at the event, charged the Rotary club to re-channel their efforts in creating a better world.
Obasanjo urged club to continue to put service to humanity above every other thing.
The former President also called on participants to use the conference opportunity to reignite the passion for helping the less-privileged. He charged them to try to positively impact on the society.
Recall that Nigeria has been facing challenges of banditry and terrorism, especially in the northern parts of the country.
As a result thereof, stakeholders are demanding stringent measures from the Federal Government to combat scourge.
In a related development, a Borno State House of Representatives member, Ahmed Jaha, on Thursday, called on the Federal Government to enlist military mercenaries to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
Jaha suggested that the present Administration should recall those mercenaries employed during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
source: Vanguard
