Education is effective weapon against insecurity, poverty – Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah has described education as the most effective weapon against insecurity, poverty and ignorance.

As such, he urged governments at all levels to invest more resources in education rather than focusing solely on military responses to insecurity.

Kukah said many of the security challenges facing Nigeria today stem from years of neglect of education, stressing that ignorance has become a major driver of violence and instability.

Thus, he also called on parents, religious leaders and community members to ensure every child, particularly those affected by conflict and poverty, has access to quality education.

The Bishop made this observation when the Jesuit Refugee Service Nigeria launched a new education intervention programme aimed at improving access to safe, inclusive and quality learning 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,” is expected to expand educational opportunities for vulnerable children in communities affected by insecurity, while strengthening the capacity of teachers and schools.

Speaking at the launch, the Country Director of JRS Nigeria, Mr. Temple Anuforo, said the organisation had already impacted more than 65,000 people through its interventions in three local government areas of Sokoto State, with women accounting for about 60 per cent of the beneficiaries.

He said the programme has also trained 483 teachers to improve the quality of teaching in crisis-affected communities and commended residents of Kware, Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas for embracing the initiative despite the security challenges confronting the region.

Anuforo noted that the project reflects JRS’ commitment to ensuring that children affected by conflict and displacement are not denied access to education, describing learning as a vital tool for restoring hope and rebuilding communities.

Kukah, while delivering the keynote address, maintained that both Islam and Christianity encourage the pursuit of knowledge, making education a shared responsibility for all.

He appealed to development partners, governments and communities to support initiatives that expand educational opportunities, saying every child deserves the chance to realise his or her potential regardless of background or circumstances.

The cleric added that investing in education would not only reduce the number of out-of-school children but also contribute to lasting peace, social cohesion and sustainable development in northern Nigeria.