- Akume noted that education cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity
- He also called for improvements in the quality of teaching through better-trained educators
- Akume warned against exploiting religion and ethnic identity for political or economic interests
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has expressed concern over the continued closure of schools due to insecurity, warning that the trend threatens Nigeria’s education system and national stability.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Akume stated that prolonged shutdowns of schools in troubled areas are worsening the country’s education challenges by disrupting learning and exposing children to greater risks.
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According to a statement issued by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the first triannual meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, themed “Religious Literacy for National Cohesion.”
He stressed the need for stronger policies on safe schools and violence-free learning environments to guarantee uninterrupted education for children across the country.
Akume noted that education cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, adding that students must feel safe in order to learn effectively and build positive social values.
He also called for improvements in the quality of teaching through better-trained educators, enhanced learning materials, and value-driven education that encourages tolerance, unity, and responsible citizenship.
Beyond the education sector, the SGF urged religious and traditional leaders to intensify efforts toward promoting peace and national unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, faith-based and traditional institutions have a critical role to play in grassroots mobilisation, youth orientation, and conflict prevention, particularly in combating misinformation, hate speech, and identity-based divisions.
Akume warned against exploiting religion and ethnic identity for political or economic interests, saying such actions often trigger violence and social unrest.
He further emphasised the importance of combining religious literacy with media and information literacy to curb the spread of false information, noting Nigeria’s collaboration with UNESCO on responsible information sharing initiatives.
The SGF added that the Federal Government had introduced measures aimed at supporting religious and traditional institutions in sustaining peace and security ahead of the next election cycle.
He expressed optimism that discussions at the NIREC meeting would produce practical recommendations for strengthening national cohesion and advancing peace through education and dialogue.
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