By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has warned against the continued closure of schools due to insecurity, declaring that the trend poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s education system and long-term national stability.
He gave the warning on Wednesday,6 May, 2026 in Abuja during the first triennial meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, held under the theme, “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion.”
According to a statement by his Media Aide, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF stressed that shutting down schools in unsafe areas not only disrupts learning but also deepens the country’s education crisis, as attacks on schools and prolonged closures continue to undermine access to education.
Akume further emphasised the urgent need to strengthen government policies on safe schools and violence-free learning environments to protect children and guarantee uninterrupted learning.
“A child cannot learn fraternity in fear; a nation cannot preach literacy while schools are under threat,” he said, highlighting the direct link between security and effective education delivery.
While acknowledging that religious studies are already embedded in the school curriculum, he argued that priority must now shift towards improving teaching quality through better-trained educators, enhanced learning materials, and value-based education that promotes tolerance and responsible citizenship.
Beyond education, the SGF called on religious and traditional leaders to take a more proactive role in preventing violence and fostering unity, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
He urged faith-based and traditional institutions to lead grassroots mobilisation, youth education, and peace-building efforts to counter misinformation, stereotypes, and identity-based divisions.
“The 2027 general elections are fast approaching, and religious and traditional leaders have a moral responsibility to strengthen collaboration, promote tolerance and ensure peaceful coexistence in their communities,” Akume said.
Je cautioned against the manipulation of religion and identity for political or economic gains, warning that such actions often fuel violence and social unrest.
He also stressed the importance of combining religious literacy with media and information literacy to combat the spread of falsehoods and hate speech, referencing Nigeria’s collaboration with UNESCO on promoting responsible information sharing.
He added that the Federal Government has put measures in place to support religious and traditional institutions in sustaining peace and security ahead of the elections.
Akume, however, expressed optimism that deliberations at the NIREC meeting would yield practical solutions to strengthen national cohesion, urging stakeholders to prioritise education and literacy as critical tools for peace-building and national development.
[06/05, 16:02] Daniel DopzStudios
