Babalakin balmes insurgency on poor level of education
The Chairman, Bi-Courtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), yesterday identified poor level of education as the reason insurgency thrives in Northeast Nigeria.
Babalakin explained this while delivering a lecture on the theme: “Education: Panacea to Insurgency” at the University of Ibadan yesterday. The lecture was part of the second decade of the University of Ibadan Muslim Graduates Association (UIMGA) Education Summit.
According to the erudite lawyer, very poor level of education in the region breeds hopelessness, which in turn, makes it easy for youths to take to violence and other anti-social behavior against the state.
He explained that the situation, which is strengthened by high level of poverty, allows promoters of violence indoctrinate the youths and easily enlist them to insurgent activities.
Babalakin, who was the Guest Lecturer, recalled that the first generation universities in Nigeria were among the top 15 in Africa at a time, adding that the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was also fourth in the Commonwealth. He disclosed that he is today always gripped by depression anytime he reads about how poorly Nigerian universities and health institutions rank among others in Africa and the world.
Emphasizing that Nigeria derailed from the sound foundation in education and civil service, he insisted that the country must return to quality and affordable education for all citizens if it seriously hopes to overcome the social vices and return to the path of greatness.