The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Retired), has identified education as a strategic tool in countering terrorism and violent extremism, describing access to quality learning as essential to addressing the conditions that drive radicalisation.
He made the submission during the commissioning of Kaduna Christian Academy in Ungwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, a project constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
General Musa described Nigeria’s security challenges as an asymmetric conflict in which extremist groups exploit misinformation, radical narratives and social vulnerabilities.
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He argued that security responses must therefore go beyond conventional operations to include investments that build community resilience, strengthen social cohesion and reduce opportunities for extremist influence.
The minister described the school as a critical security intervention, stressing that sustainable security depends on tackling ignorance, exclusion and hopelessness.
According to the Defence Ministry, the project reflects a broader shift in security thinking, with agencies increasingly combining operational duties with development-focused initiatives.
The academy was built by the DSS in partnership with Nest Global Resources, Dan Oil Exploration Limited and Tantina Security Services, following a similar education intervention for the Muslim community in Danbushiya, Chikun Local Government Area.
General Musa said such initiatives demonstrate that internal security is also strengthened through public confidence, inclusion and improved relationships between communities and security institutions.
He urged students, parents and residents to see the academy as an investment in the future, stressing that education must promote citizenship, tolerance and critical thinking.
The Minister also called on the community to protect the facility and cooperate with security agencies to sustain the gains of the intervention.
The initiative underscores a broader national security approach that links counterterrorism with human development, recognising education, social stability and community trust as key pillars of long-term security strategy.
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