Nigerian Schools Need Security Education Now — Soyinka

Assessing the security situation in the country weekend, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, renewed calls on the federal government to urgently adopt policies that strengthened security awareness across the country, particularly within the education sector.

Speaking during a visit to his alma mater, Government College Ibadan, Soyinka said the rising wave of insecurity, especially attacks and kidnappings targeting schools, demanded a fundamental change in how security was perceived and taught in society.

He said: “We need policies that instil security consciousness in our citizens. Security should be treated with such seriousness that it becomes a discipline taught in schools.”

He emphasised that it was no longer sufficient for security to be seen as the sole responsibility of law enforcement agencies.

He argued that children must be taught early to recognise threats, respond appropriately, and understand the broader implications of insecurity.

Soyinka, who warned that the situation had reached a critical point, said: “Kidnappings now affect every sector. When insecurity reaches this level, urgent and drastic steps are necessary to prevent future occurrences.”

He also expressed concern about the psychological impact of insecurity on young learners, explaining that constant fear disrupts learning, weakens creativity, and undermines national development.

He called on policymakers, educators, and civil society organisations to collaborate on a framework that integrates security education into the school curriculum, combining theory with practical safety drills and emergency response training.