… Traces insecurity to porous borders, arms proliferation, youth unemployment

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, at the weekend, stated that the country’s security challenges predate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stressing that terrorism, insurgency, and banditry were entrenched in the country long before 2023.

Dogara, who is the Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, stated this during the institution’s 16th convocation ceremony, where 836 graduands received various academic qualifications.

While congratulating the graduands on their convocation, he stated that the country needed their talents, creativity, and innovation.

According to him, the security problems could be traced back to years of porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, youth unemployment, and the spread of extremist ideologies.

He, however, noted that Tinubu had consistently identified national security as a major responsibility of his administration.

On his part, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, said Nigeria had made reasonable progress in expanding access to tertiary education but expressed concern about the prospects of graduates after leaving school.

Ayorinde cited figures from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which put the number of universities in the country at 312 as of June 2026, comprising 77 federal, 67 state-owned, and 168 private institutions.

He said the institutions represented a huge investment in human capital, with parents, governments, and lecturers making sacrifices to produce skilled professionals, but questioned what opportunities awaited graduates after completing their studies.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, said the university had remained committed to providing quality education that combines intellectual development, practical skills, character building, and social responsibility since its establishment.