Kabiru Haruna
In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening national security through education, the Federal Ministry of Education has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to promote peace education and establish safe, resilient learning environments across the country.
Speaking at the official launch of the collaboration, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, lauded the NCTC for its bold step in integrating peace education and counter-terrorism strategies into the national curriculum and other critical components of Nigeria’s education system.
Dr. Alausa highlighted the significance of this groundbreaking initiative, noting that the Ministry is committed to making inclusive adjustments where necessary to ensure its successful implementation.
He emphasized the need for additional information and feedback on related areas to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the programs.
“In our continued efforts to secure our schools, I am pleased to report that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there has not been a single case of school kidnapping. This reflects that the country is indeed moving in the right direction,” Dr. Alausa declared.
He further identified the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as a key institution in this collaboration, given its capacity and reach across Nigeria’s educational landscape.
However, the Minister also raised concerns about questionable data from some quarters, describing it as “unquestionably necked” and calling for accurate, data-driven planning to enhance programme delivery.
The partnership focuses on several core areas including curriculum integration, school-based early warning and reporting systems, enhanced school security architecture, and youth empowerment, particularly in conflict-prone regions.
“This initiative is designed not only to build inclusive and resilient learning spaces but also to embed a sense of peace and national unity among our students,” Dr. Alausa added.
He confirmed that the Ministry has already begun reviewing many of these strategies and is open to additional security-focused inputs to further boost their impact.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, expressed the Ministry’s full readiness to contribute to the success of the partnership.
He praised Dr. Alausa as a visionary leader, stating, “We have a Minister of Education of outstanding excellence—his legacy will endure for decades.”
Also speaking at the event, Major General A G Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC, emphasized the importance of education in advancing the non-kinetic elements of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy.
He applauded the Minister’s sterling leadership and reform- focused Agenda in the Education sector.
The Meeting was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Director School Safety Net, Alhaji Abdullahi Hussein and other Directors of the Ministry.