In a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening national security through education, the Federal Ministry of Education has entered into a strategic partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to promote peace education and establish safe, resilient learning environments across the country.
Speaking during the courtesy visit of the National Coordinator of Counter Terrorism (NCTC) to the Honourable Minister of Education , Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa CON,in his office.
The Minister lauded the NCTC for its bold step in integrating peace education and counter-terrorism strategies into the national curriculum and other critical components of Nigeria’s education system.
Dr. Alausa underscored the significance of the initiative, noting that the Ministry is committed to making inclusive adjustments where necessary to ensure its successful implementation. He also emphasized the need for additional information and feedback on related areas to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the programmes.
He further identified the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as a key institution in the collaboration, given its capacity and reach across Nigeria’s educational landscape. However, the Minister also raised concerns about questionable data from some quarters, describing it as “unquestionably necked” and called for accurate, data-driven planning to enhance programme delivery.
The partnership focuses on several core areas including curriculum integration, school-based early warning and reporting systems, enhanced school security architecture, and youth empowerment, particularly in conflict-prone regions.
“This initiative is designed not only to build inclusive and resilient learning spaces but also to embed a sense of peace and national unity among our students,” Dr. Alausa added. He confirmed that the Ministry has already begun reviewing many of these strategies and is open to additional security-focused inputs to further boost their impact.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, expressed the Ministry’s full readiness to contribute to the success of the partnership. He praised Dr. Alausa as a visionary leader, stating, “We have a Minister of Education of outstanding excellence—his legacy will endure for decades.”
Speaking earlier, at the event, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC appreciated the role the ministry is playing in ensuring Safe school project, School based development programmes, and Anti -Bullying policy among others. Major General Laka emphasized the importance of education in advancing the non-kinetic elements of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy. He applauded the Minister’s sterling leadership and reform-focused Agenda in the education sector.
He then sought collaboration with the ministry especially in the area of incorporating Peace Education into Civil studies in Basic and Secondary Education Curricula development and improvement on the existing collaboration.
Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment in collaborating closely with relevant stakeholders and organisations to build a peaceful environment for learning at all levels of education.
Signed
Boriowo Folasade
Director Press and Public Relations
