The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to countering terrorism and violent extremism by expanding access to quality education in underserved communities across the country.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), stated this on Sunday during the commissioning of the Kaduna Christian Academy in Ungwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, located in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The academy was constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in partnership with private entities, including Nest Global Resources, Dan Oil Exploration Limited, and Tantina Security Services. The project follows a similar educational intervention by the DSS for the Muslim community in Danbushiya, also within the Chikun LGA, aimed at fostering inclusive development and inter-faith harmony.
Characterizing Nigeria’s current security challenges as an “asymmetric war,” General Musa explained that because adversaries rely heavily on radicalization and false narratives, providing education in a safe environment is the nation’s most effective countermeasure.
”As Minister of Defence, I view this school as a critical military asset without a single rifle,” General Musa said. “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.”
The Minister praised the DSS for looking beyond traditional roles of surveillance and arrests to build public confidence, describing an educated and enlightened mind as the best defense against destabilizing forces.
Addressing the local community, General Musa urged students, parents, and Kaduna State residents to take full ownership of the facility. He described the school as a sanctuary of hope for students to learn critical thinking and citizenship, a sign of government commitment for parents, and a bridge between tactical military operations and community development for the state.
He further charged the school’s management and teachers to maintain strict discipline and professionalism, while calling on local youth to protect the facility as their own inheritance.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by officials from the Kaduna State Government, religious leaders, and traditional rulers. Representing Governor Uba Sani, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Justice, Barr. James Kanyip, welcomed the intervention and assured continued collaboration between the state government, security agencies, and private partners to drive regional development.