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7/29/2019 Forestalling Insecurity, Radicalism and Terrorism Through Education, Scholarship
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Forestalling
Insecurity andTerrorism in
Nigeria throughScholarship, SkillAcquisition
Programs & GoodGovernance
By
Don Okereke
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Forestalling Insecurity and Terrorism in Nigeria throughScholarship, Skill Acquisition Programs & Good Governance
In my preceding essays, particularly in ‘’Beyond the Razzmatazz: Combating the
Remote and Immediate Causes of Insecurity, Instability and Terrorism in
Nigeria’’, I expounded the remote and immediate causes of Insecurity, Instability and
Terrorism in Nigeria. I also proffered solutions encompassing social, economic, politica
infrastructural reforms amongst others. In this Piece, I will zero in on abysmal poverty
or widening gap between the rich and the poor, hopelessness/frustration, and
joblessness. Herein, I postulate that the aforementioned latent CAUSATIVE AGENTS
of insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria can be nipped in the bud through education
scholarship, skill acquisition/capacity building programs and by ensuring that wealth
and opportunities trickles-down to the poor. Like the Scripture posits, what we sow i
what we reap. If we sow the seeds of insecurity and terrorism by acts of commission o
omission, then we cannot exonerate ourselves from the negative butterfly-effect.
The Nigerian State has not been fair to majority of Nigerians despite the abundan
material resources accruable to this country. We don’t have to wait until people pick up
arms before we try to pacify or ‘settle’ them. The former ECOWAS Commissio
President- Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambers recently opined that, ‘Nigeria has no reason
to be poor’’. Let me paraphrase the words of Dr. Ibn Chambers, ‘Nigerians have no
business being poor’. Former President Obasanjo stated the obvious when he lately
opined that, ‘’rising unemployment in Nigeria is a time-bomb’’.
Beside the guise of religion and politics, there must be a strong force that will galvanize
an individual to waste his life and that of others as a suicide bomber. That strong force
is the trio of abysmal poverty, hopelessness/frustration, and joblessness. It’s no
simplistic! A hungry man is an angry man. It will take an amazing brain-washing
prowess to convince a gainfully employed young man or somebody with a thriving
business to abandon the trappings of his work or business and be a slavish stooge fo
kidnapping or terrorism.
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On Radicalism
An upsurge of religious fundamentalism invariably undermines the social order
Religious organizations- Churches and Mosques in most African countries have
unwittingly usurped the roles of the government. Many Nigerians will rather trust o
listen to their pastor’s or Imam’s than say Mr. President. Churches/Mosques dole oumoney etc to impoverished members. This is not a bad thing to do. The flip-side is tha
he who plays the Piper dictates the tune. Hence it becomes easy for a run-of-the-mi
Imam or Pastor to brainwash an entire congregation because they depend on him fo
their sustenance. An average American or Westerner generally, does not have to fas
and pray before s/he eats a meal or clothes himself. Government at all levels mus
begin to deliver on their promises and better the lot of her citizens.
Proliferation of Private Universities
It has become a fad in Nigeria for anybody who is somebody to own a private
university. This is a noble vision. One wishes the driving force be skewed towards
altruism rather than for pecuniary gains. Imagine the prevailing scenario where a
Church or an ex-president builds a private university and children from poo
backgrounds cannot afford to attend such schools. With a tuition fee of not less thanN500,000.00 (half a million naira) a session, how many Nigerian parents earning
N18,000-N30,000 minimum wage can send their wards to say Bells University o
Technology, ABTI-American University, Covenant University etc. In addition to building
private universities which only children of rich people like themselves can attend, ou
ex-leaders, church founders and those blessed with stupendous wealth, should set up
a Trust or an Endowment Fund through which they can award scholarships to gifted
students from poor backgrounds. At the risk of partisanship, I think Owelle Rochas
Okorocha is blazing in this regard through his Rochas Foundation.
A Multi-faceted Approach
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Analysts and experts concur that a potpourri of proactive measures- intelligenc
surveillance/gathering, education/scholarships and Skill acquisition are viable tools tha
can nip insecurity, radicalism and terrorism in the bud.
Sequel to the complexity of the Security situation in Nigeria with a mix of economic
political and social strife, the United Nations Counterterrorism Implementation TasForce (CTITF) accentuates the importance of strategy, promotion of Public-Privat
Partnerships and a collective effort to counterterrorism.
To this effect, Washington recommends that Nigeria sets up a ‘’comprehensive
programme in the northern parts of Nigeria’’ in addition to a Security strategy and a
socio-economic plan. Efforts must be geared towards ensuring that every Nigerian
irrespective of place of birth or the family he/she is born into has a chance to actualizehis or her God-given potentials.
Ongoing programmes, variants of the haphazardly packaged ‘amnesty programme
must be put in place by the government, individuals or organizations as part of thei
Corporate Social Responsibility. This will engage and dissuade would-be terrorists and
criminals/kidnappers. Good governance will go a long way in exterminating insecurity
and terrorism in Nigeria.
The United States Experience
The Americans understand and profoundly appreciate the importance of nipping
crimes, radicalism, violent extremism and terrorism in the bud hence their immense
direct and indirect investments in security/defence and education. Americans design
and encourage programs that are geared towards prevention than cure b
exterminating the causative agents of the disease rather than fighting the symptoms a
we do in Nigeria. I was amazed to discover a cornucopia of academic trusts
scholarships and endowment funds geared towards supporting and encouraging brigh
and probably poor American citizens and even foreign students and scholars. Throug
these programmes, wealth and opportunities trickle down and people are lifted out o
poverty. A few of these academic programs are:
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Fulbright Scholarship
The U.S. Student Fulbright grants send 1,500 students to one of 150 different countries
for an academic year.
Rhodes Scholarships
The Rhodes scholarship, the oldest international fellowships, awards outstanding
students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Each year, 3
American Rhodes Scholars are selected.
Harry S. Truman Scholarship
The Truman Foundation awards 75-80 scholarships annually to students who wan
to Make a Difference.
H.J. Heinz Company Foundation Fellowship
H.J. Heinz Company Foundation Fellowship, for individuals from developing countries
who demonstrate potential as future leaders in the public, government, non-profit,
private sectors.
The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
The Department of Defense (DoD) annually supports approximately 8,000 graduate
students in fields important to national defense needs.
Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program
The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship seeks students who wish to
pursue a career in the Foreign Service.
Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program (PRISP) recruits and trains analysts and
linguists.
Not forgetting the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Gates Cambridge
Scholarship, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Undergraduate
Scholarships & Graduate Fellowships, the U.S Department of Homeland Security’
Science and Technology directorate’s $55,000 postdoctoral associateship program and
the FBI’s Intern Program.
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The CIA, DIA, and NSA participate in an Undergraduate Training Program known
as the Stokes Program which targets bright high school seniors and high performing
college sophomores majoring in areas critical to the needs of the participating
agencies. Students selected for this programme receive a government salary and fu
benefits as well as tuition and other educational expenses.
The United States’ National Security Agency also has several other scholarship and
fellowship programs.
The Defense Intelligence Agency sponsors the National Consortium for MASINT
Research (NMCR) Scholars Program which provides scholarship funding for student
attending consortium universities.
United States Intelligence agencies also participate in some specialized scholarship
programs such as the Information Assurance Scholarship Program for students a
NSA-designated Centers of Academic Excellence and the NDEA/SMART Scholarship
Program for math, science, engineering, and other critically needed technical skills.
The United States military services offer a number of scholarships and fellowships
including ROTC programs.
You see why an average American does not have any qualms dying for his country
because to a large extent, his country somehow guarantees that her citizens wi
actualize their aspirations. Life is quid pro quo!
On the international scene, the United States government through the USAID and a
battery of critical counterterrorism capacity building programs – Antiterrorism
Assistance Program, Counterterrorist Finance, Counterterrorism Engagement, the
Terrorist Interdiction Program/Personal Identification Secure Comparison and
Evaluation System Program, and transnational activities under the Regional Strategi
Initiatives; broadcast outreach to targeted audiences etc reaches out and partners wit
other governments and organizations in fighting crimes and terrorism.
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For example in 2011, ‘’USAID worked in Islamiyyah and Quranic schools in Northern
Nigeria benefitting 72,350 pupils (41,915 male and 30,435 female), out of which 15,060
were identified as orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The vulnerable children
received support materials to allow them to attend school. Also in 2011, ‘’the USAID, in
cooperation with other U.S. government agencies, undertook programs that promoted
reforms to enable developing and transition countries to allocate resources toward
activities to accelerate economic growth’’. DFID too is massively invested in uplifting
Nigerians.
Using the efforts of the United States government, individuals and the private sector as
a benchmark, can we say we are doing enough in Nigeria in our supposed fight agains
violent crimes, insecurity and terrorism?
Calling on Nigeria’s Super-Rich and Institutions to set up EndowmenFunds/Foundations/Trusts
Mo Ibrahim Foundation supports good governance and great leadership in Africa. Kof
Annan Foundation fights a cause against drug trafficking in the West African sub
region and so on and so forth.
Many Nigerian former leaders lose their relevance immediately they leave office. Apar
from playing parish-pump politics and using their war-chest to pull strings or destabiliz
the polity, they seldom make intellectual or otherwise contributions in the national o
International scene. Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan amongst others are
global brands even after they left office.
Envisage the social transformation and positive multiplier-effect that will take place if a
Nigeria’s former President’s/Heads of state, Governors, Ministers, ex-bank MD’s etc
channel their energies, accumulated wealth and intellect in a Humanitarian Cause they
are passionate about. Imagine the social transformation that will take place if the N6b
‘Security Vote’ and the so-called ‘Constituency Allowance’ accruable to all 36 State
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governors and members of the National Assembly respectively are judiciously utilized
and channeled into truly uplifting Nigerians.
The Obasanjo’s, Babangida’s, Atiku’s, David Mark’s, Dangote’s, Dantata’s, Adamu
Ciroma’s, Paschal Dozie’s, Emeka Anyaoku’s, Adenuga’s, Iwuanyanwu’s, Bola
Tinubu’s, Otedola’s, Jimoh Ibrahim’s, Wale Babalakin’s, Arisekola’s, Harry Akande’sRasaq Okoya’s, Cosmas Maduka’s, Peter Odili’s, Andy/Ifeanyi Uba’s, Oritsejafo’s
Enoch Adeboye’s, Chris Oyakhilome’s amongst others should establish or partner with
existing Trusts, Foundations or Endowment Funds that will encourage academi
research, award scholarships to promising but poor students or train people on ski
acquisition. Apologies to those whose names appear here that already have such
mechanisms. One understands that some of these prominent Nigerians are
philanthropists per excellence but a lot of times they lack a well-structured vehicle like
a Trust or a Foundation through which their philanthropy will be better harnessed. Gen
TY Danjuma reportedly earmarked $100m of his $1bn ‘Oil Windfall’ for his TY Danjuma
Foundation (TYDF). The TY Danjuma, Tony Elumelu Foundations amongst others
must not be mere paper-tigers; they must walk the talk and give hope to hopeles
people. The vision and philanthropic proclivity of many prominent Nigerians fizzle ou
when they die; M.K.O Abiola is a classic example. With a well-knit Foundation or a
Trust, these noble visions will surely outlive the individuals that conceptualized them
Sometimes these eminent Nigerians amass stupendous wealth only for their children to
start fighting over who gets what after their parents demise.
Rather than rubbing their wealth in, acquiring/accepting luxury cars and private jets as
birthday gifts, other Nigerian Pastor’s/Imam’s should borrow a leaf from Pastor T.B
Joshua. Love him or hate him, T.B Joshua enunciates practical Christianity through hi
philanthropy. One wishes he puts in place an enduring framework that will continue to
propagate his visions even after his demise.
Borrowing a leaf from the Americans, it will not be anomalous for Nigeria’s Nationa
Intelligence Agency (NIA), the State Security Service (SSS), Defence Industrie
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Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the EFCC, the ICPC, Nigeria Police and other siste
organizations to encourage internship programs, award bursaries/scholarships o
research grants to scholars. Any student who gets such an offer or opportunity will no
doubt be perpetually grateful and indebted to the country at large. He/she wi
invariably be an instrument in the fight against crime, social disorder and terrorism.
During my university days, the school authority saw the wisdom in incorporatin
military/Para-military students and the Man O War into the university’s securit
network. I can tell you that because we were part of the students: we study, live with
and mingle with them; it was easier for us to be privy to some goings-on in school than
the formal security officers employed by the school.
On the part of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police and other security agenciesthere must be ongoing training and retraining of the officers and rank and file especially
in the area of weapon handling, rule of law amongst others. This will cut down rampar
incidents of extra-judicial killings.
Modernizing Almajiri System of Education
It’s not that we are bereft of well-articulated ideas in Nigeria; our bane is in the
implementation of such ideas. One of such ideas is to modernize the almajiri system in
northern parts of Nigeria and integrate it into our mainstream educational system. No
too long ago, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned a N240m Almajiri Mode
Boarding School in Gagi, Sokoto state. One hopes other northern states will replicate
such projects. A lot of these angry, frustrated and hopeless youths must be given hope
and kept busy.
Skill acquisition programmes must also be put in place across Nigeria to absorb these
idle and frustrated youths. The much talked about YouWin, SURE-P, Graduate
Internship Programmes, CBN’s ‘’Entrepreneurship Development Centres’’, Ministry o
Communications ‘’Naija Cloud’’ amongst others must not be paper-tigers o
instruments of political benefaction. One is gladdened by the prospect of the ‘‘Strategi
Philanthropy Summit’’ recently co-hosted by the Goodluck Jonathan government. We
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earnestly hope that this Philanthropy platform hits the ground running in view of the
exigency of its vocation.
The Northern part of Nigeria has produced the most President/Heads of State and
political leaders in Nigeria but unfortunately this aggrandized wealth has not trickled
down to the downtrodden. What obtains in the North and in many parts of Nigeria is asituation where an individual in a community amasses so much wealth and others
depend on him for their upkeep. Thanks to the Petroleum Industry Bill debate, many o
us would not have known that few individuals from a section of Nigeria own 83% of O
Wells with the likes of Alhaji Mai Deribe purportedly netting a whopping N4bn monthl
from his Oil business in a country where many struggle to eat two square meals. One
does not begrudge these folks; we rather wish that they plough back just an iota o
their wealth towards a Humanitarian Cause.
The rich cannot continue to sleep with their two eyes closed until drastic and collective
actions are taken to give hope to hopeless and hapless individuals in our midst. At the
risk over-egging the pudding or been dubbed a pessimist or a prophet of doom,
postulate that with or without negotiation or amnesty, pockets of sporadic terroris
incidents, kidnappings will persist across Nigeria unless far-reaching measures are
taken to shrink culture of impunity, abject poverty, unemployment, hopelessness
wanton corruption/profligacy, religion fundamentalism and injustice.
Security is a collective responsibility; all hands must be on deck. Nigerians Unit
Against Insecurity and Terrorism. Let’s make Nigeria great again! Hear it! See it
Say it! Stop it!!!
God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.
Don Okereke(Security Analyst & Consultant)Abuja, Nigeriadonnuait@yahoo.com+2347080008285
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