Kukah Advocates Education as Key to Combat Insecurity

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, stated that education is the most effective weapon against insecurity, poverty, and ignorance. He urged governments to allocate more resources to education instead of relying solely on military solutions to security issues.

Kukah noted that many of Nigeria's security challenges arise from years of educational neglect, with ignorance driving violence and instability. He made these remarks at the launch of the Jesuit Refugee Service Nigeria's new education intervention program aimed at enhancing access to quality education for crisis-affected children in Sokoto State.

The project, titled “Enhancing Access to Safe, Inclusive and Integrated Quality Education Services for Crisis-Affected Children in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria,” aims to expand educational opportunities for vulnerable children and strengthen teacher capacity. Mr. Temple Anuforo, Country Director of JRS Nigeria, reported that the organization has impacted over 65,000 people in Sokoto State, with women comprising about 60% of beneficiaries.

Kukah called for collective efforts to ensure every child has access to education, emphasizing its role in fostering peace and development.