Insecurity and Education
If I could change one thing about Nigeria, it would be to address the twin issues of insecurity and education,
Insecurity is causing fear and crippling the economy while a broken education system leaves many young youth without opportunities, pushing them through crime,
Both are deeply connected and, in many ways, feed into each other. Without addressing one, we cannot fully solve the other.
I believe by fixing both, we can create a better and beautiful nation to live in with equal opportunities
Let’s start with insecurity.
In Nigeria today, no one feels truly safe. From the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, to kidnappings in the South, to herdsmen clashes in the Middle Belt, insecurity has become a daily threat. It’s no longer something you hear about in the news, it’s part of everyday life. People can’t travel freely. Farmers can’t go to their fields. Students can’t go to school without fear. Families live in constant worry, and entire communities are displaced.
The effects of insecurity on the economy are also devastating. Foreign investors don't always come to Nigeria because of safety concerns.
Businesses are forced to close or operate under heavy security, lives are lost, families are broken, and fear spreads faster than any disease. People don't get surprised over bad news cause of the happenings in our environment.
And what hurts the most is that many of the reasons behind this insecurity come from these issues, poverty, lack of opportunity, and unemployment.
When people feel desperate, when they don’t see a way out, they turn to violence or crime.
This is where education comes in.
Education is not just about learning math or history, it’s about opening doors to opportunity. But Nigeria’s education system is broken. Schools are overcrowded, underfunded, and outdated. Teachers are poorly paid and often lack proper training. Even after years of study, graduates face an uncertain future, as jobs are scarce and the job market is often driven by nepotism and corruption.
When people don’t have access to quality education, they are left with few options. Some turn to the streets. Some join criminal groups. Many simply lose hope. Education, which should be the key to a better life, has become a privilege, something that only a few can access.
For many young Nigerians, survival becomes the priority, not learning. And the cycle continues, without education, there are fewer opportunities, and with fewer opportunities, there is more desperation and insecurity.
Education has no value as there are many unemployed graduates
The connection between insecurity and education is clear, if we do not fix the education system, we will continue to breed poverty, hopelessness, and crime. But if we address insecurity, we can create a safe space where children can go to school, businesses can thrive, and communities can grow. If we tackle both, we create a future where everyone has a chance to succeed, not just survive.
If I had the power to change one thing about Nigeria, it would be to make sure every child has access to a quality education and every Nigerian feels safe. We need a stronger education system, one that prepares students for the real world, one that encourages creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We need to invest in the future by ensuring that children are not just taught to memorize facts, but are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in today’s world.
At the same time, we need a more secure Nigeria. We need better equipped security forces, more jobs, and better opportunities for the youth. We need to reduce corruption and ensure that resources meant for security are actually used to protect the people.
Because when we fix education, we fix the future. And when we ensure security, we create the conditions for that future to thrive. A Nigeria where both security and education are prioritized will be a nation that can rise above its challenges and take its place as a leader on the African continent.