By Lengnan Dapam Tobias
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has identified education as a key to defeating terrorism and violent extremism in the country.
Musa said this in Kaduna during the inauguration of the Kaduna Christian Academy in Ungwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the school is constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Describing Nigeria’s current security challenges as an “asymmetric war”, the minister noted that adversaries relied on radicalisation and false narratives.
He said the most effective counter was education delivered in a safe environment.
“As minister of defence, I view this school as a critical military asset without a single rifle.
“True and lasting security is anchored on the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. This school is a weapon of mass instruction in the right hands,” he said.
He added that the inauguration was not just a ceremonial event, but a demonstration of community resilience, inter-agency collaboration, and the human dimension of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The Kaduna Christian Academy was built by the DSS in partnership with Nest Global Resources, Dan Oil Exploration Limited, and Tantina Security Services.
“It follows a similar intervention by the DSS in Danbushiya, Chikun LGA, where a school was constructed for the Muslim community to promote inclusive development.
“We see the DSS in a different lighta; builders of the future,” the minister said.
Musa added that by constructing the academy, the DSS had shown that internal security was not just about surveillance and arrest.
“It is about winning the confidence of the people. A secure mind; one that is educated and enlightened is the best defence against the merchants of chaos,” he emphasised.
He therefore urged the people of Ungwan Sunday and the state in general to take ownership of the academy.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Deborah Coker
