Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, has identified education as the most powerful weapon with which Nigeria can fight terrorism and violent extremism.

The Minister said this yesterday in Abuja, while pledging stronger educational cooperation with Nigeria in the fight against insecurity across Africa.

Speaking during his official visit to Nigeria, Abdelatty declared that both Nigeria and Egypt have made strides in countering terrorism through a comprehensive approach that goes beyond military tactics and focuses on addressing the root causes, especially extremist ideologies through education, youth engagement, and socio-economic development.

“We believe that tackling extremist ideologies through education is crucial. Egypt’s strategy has gone beyond the security angle. We train young imams and preachers, invest in socio-economic development, and challenge extremist ideas head-on. This is something we share with Nigeria, and we are here to deepen that cooperation,” Abdelatty said.

The Minister, who was received by his Nigerian counterpart, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized that Egypt is ready to expand its scholarship programme for Nigerian students, especially through Al-Azhar University, which has long-standing ties with Nigeria.

He said the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar had instructed him to double the number of scholarships for Nigerian students and expressed readiness to accept more into Egyptian universities generally.

He noted that Egypt chose Nigeria as the starting point of his regional tour on the instructions of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in recognition of Nigeria’s strategic role in Africa.

“It is a great honour to start my African tour here. This reflects the weight and importance of Nigeria. Our relationship is built on deep historical, cultural, and religious foundations, and we are committed to translating that into real development through education, trade, investment, and peace-building,” Abdelatty noted.

He also extended Egypt’s condolences on the passing of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader who made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development and counter-terrorism efforts.

In his earlier remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, welcomed the Egyptian delegation and reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to deepen ties with Egypt, especially in areas that address insecurity through long-term development.

“We must address the foundations of our challenges, including insecurity through collaboration in areas like education and youth development. Nigeria and Egypt together represent a quarter of Africa’s population. We must leverage this bond to shape a more peaceful and prosperous continent,” Tuggar said.

Also speaking, Egypt’s candidate for Director-General of UNESCO and a former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El-Anany, said he was committed to strengthening partnerships in education, science, and culture if elected.

He expressed gratitude to Nigeria for supporting his candidacy during the 47th session of the African Union Executive Council.

“I believe the most efficient weapon against terrorism and discrimination is education. Science, culture, and access to reliable information are also key, and I look forward to working with Nigeria in all of these areas,” El-Anany said.

The meeting also featured discussions on economic cooperation, with Abdelatty leading a strong delegation of Egyptian investors and private sector leaders. He disclosed Egypt’s continued interest in Nigeria’s natural gas and energy sector and announced plans to increase EgyptAir’s 17 weekly flights to Lagos, Abuja, and Kano to facilitate tourism and trade.