Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, have identified quality education, active citizenship and stronger community collaboration with security agencies as critical tools for tackling banditry, terrorism and other security challenges confronting Nigeria.
The two leaders made the assertion during the commissioning of Kaduna Christian Academy, a faith-based educational institution donated to the Christian community in Kaduna by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, and his associates.
The event comes barely a year after a similar school was donated to the Muslim community in Danbushiya, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, underscoring efforts to promote inclusiveness, education and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking at the ceremony, General Musa described the academy as a strategic non-kinetic intervention aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity, stressing that national security goes beyond military operations and intelligence gathering.
“When we speak of national defence, the instinct is to focus on boots on the ground, air power or intelligence gathering.
However, true and lasting security is anchored in one critical element: the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. This school is a weapon of mass instruction in the right hands,” he said.
The Defence Minister commended the DSS for extending its mandate beyond conventional security operations through community-focused development initiatives, noting that an educated population constitutes a stronger defence against extremism, criminality and social instability.
According to him, insecurity thrives where opportunities are limited, making investment in education one of the most effective strategies for preventing the recruitment of young people into criminal and terrorist networks.
Musa also called on citizens to support security agencies with credible and timely intelligence, warning that bandits and terrorists often rely on local collaborators for information and logistics.
“Security agencies alone cannot defeat these criminal elements. If we keep quiet, they will continue to destroy us. But if we speak out, they will not have any space to survive,” he stated.
The minister further commended Governor Uba Sani for fostering inclusion, development and peaceful coexistence across Kaduna State, noting that significant progress had been recorded in security and governance through collaboration between federal and state authorities as well as local communities.
He also praised the resilience of the people of Southern Kaduna and urged them to resist divisive tendencies capable of undermining peace and unity in the region.
Representing Governor Uba Sani at the event, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. James Kanyip, reaffirmed the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education.
He described education as a powerful driver of human capital development and social transformation.
“Education remains one of the most powerful tools for personal, human capital and social development. Every classroom built creates opportunity for learning. Every child educated strengthens our communities. And every investment in education contributes to a more prosperous future for our state and the nation,” he said.
Kanyip noted that the commissioning of the academy symbolised hope, opportunity and a collective commitment to investing in the future of children.
“Today, we are not merely opening a new building. We are celebrating hope, opportunity and transformation,” he added.
Earlier, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern States and the FCT, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said the project was facilitated by the DSS Director-General in recognition of education as one of the most effective tools for combating insecurity, poverty and other social challenges.
“Today is more than the opening of a school building. Today is the opening of doors to opportunity, doors to knowledge, doors to growth and a brighter future for our children,” Hayab said.
He noted that many communities still face challenges in accessing quality education due to inadequate infrastructure, shortage of learning materials and economic hardship.
According to him, Kaduna Christian Academy was established not only to provide academic excellence but also to instill discipline, character, leadership, faith and compassion in young learners.
Also speaking, Malam Musa Suleiman, who represented the friends of the DSS Director-General, reiterated that education remains one of the most potent instruments for addressing the underlying causes of insecurity and building a peaceful society.
