The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned Nigerians not to allow religious extremism to destabilise the country.
Abubakar spoke yesterday in Sokoto at the opening of the 2021 National Education Summit with the theme: Education and National Development Security: Issues and the Way Forward organised by the Nigerian Army Education Corps.
Participants included officials of the Armed Forces, commissioners of education from the Northwest, principals and relevant stakeholders from private and public schools.
The Sultan, who was the chairman of the occasion noted that religious extremism is among the most fundamental and critical challenges disturbing Nigeria and many other countries across the world.
“We need to be guided by the true teachings of the two major religions in the country by acquiring the necessary knowledge,” he said.
Abubakar said the summit and the choice of theme came at the right time when the country was bedevilled by banditry, kidnappings and other security issues threatening the peace and survival of the nation.
The Sultan stressed the need for the summit to match the paper work with implementation of the recommendations for the benefit of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We need to develop a system that will practically engage persons with or without the qualification requirements to become innovative and creative for development.
“We have to think out of the box by also ensuring standards and excellence through the promotion of learning in local languages not attaching too much preference to English,” he said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya said the Army remained resolute in its commitment to sustain the fight for the security of lives and property of Nigerians.
“This summit is an avenue and platform that will inspire and strengthen the capacity of the Army and the Armed Forces to be professionally equipped as well as other stakeholders through coordinated initiative by encouraging vigilance and revelation of vital information to the Army and other security agencies,” he said
