Former APC Chairman Bisi Akande Advocates Mass Education to Tackle Insecurity

Former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has stated that mass education is the fundamental solution to Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

Speaking on Friday during the celebration of his 87th birthday in Ila, Osun State, Akande warned that the declining standard of education threatens the nation’s future competitiveness and social stability. He argued that a poorly educated population cannot compete effectively in a globalized world.

Akande linked widespread insecurity including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping directly to educational neglect. He cited the legacy of late Premier Obafemi Awolowo, who introduced free universal primary education in the Western Region in the 1950s, as a model for fostering social harmony.

“The answer to insecurity is mass education,” Akande said. “Obafemi Awolowo introduced mass education about 70 years ago, and that is why we are not killing ourselves in the South-West.”

He stressed that while insecurity may not be eradicated immediately, it could be gradually eliminated through “deep, mass, universal education.” Akande added that education distinguishes humans from animals, noting that a lack of learning can lead to moral decay and violence.

“When you are not educated, you are like an animal. You don’t mind killing people; you can be a murderer and not be ashamed of it,” he remarked.

The elder statesman urged sustained investment in education as a long-term strategy for building a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.