During a Sunday event in Kaduna, Nigeria’s Defence Minister, retired General Christopher Gwabin Musa, declared that education stands as the nation’s most powerful defense against extremist ideologies. Speaking at the inauguration of the Kaduna Christian Academy, a facility constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS), he emphasized that the country faces an asymmetric conflict where adversaries rely on radicalization and distorted narratives.
Musa stated, “Our struggle is not conventional; our foes exploit misinformation and indoctrination. The most effective response is the dissemination of truth within secure educational environments. This academy, while named for the Christian community, embodies interfaith unity.”
The minister argued that a well-educated and alert populace is the foremost deterrent against those who spread disorder. He noted that numerous communities suffer from banditry and extremism, often rooted in limited prospects. “From my perspective as Defence Minister, this school is a strategic asset without a single firearm. An educated population is less vulnerable to the lies of terrorists and separatists,” he added.
Musa further explained that literacy enhances local intelligence gathering for security agencies. “A child in a classroom today is the adult who will reject a kidnapper’s ransom note tomorrow,” he said. He praised the DSS for constructing the academy for a specific faith group without bias, asserting that “security is impartial to religion, and development does not favor any ethnicity.”
The minister highlighted that the DSS should be recognized as a builder of the future. By creating the academy for the Ungwan Bulus community, the agency demonstrates that internal security involves more than surveillance and arrests—it also requires earning public trust.
Earlier, Reverend Joseph John Hayab, chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), described the academy as a foundation for learning and character development. “This institution fosters not only intellectual growth but also discipline, responsible citizenship, and moral integrity. When education is properly grounded, society is shaped correctly,” he said.
Reverend Hayab emphasized that the school serves as a reminder that education bridges divides and that children’s futures transcend religion, ethnicity, and background. He called for collective investment in education as a path to peace and national progress, urging individuals to contribute resources, partnerships, or encouragement to expand such initiatives.