Conquering The Menace of Boko Haram, Using Education
By Charlie Oribamise
The menace that Boko Haram portends for the West African Region must be battled essentially using what it hates most – Education. The ignorance of the sect about education needs to be removed once and for all from Nigeria as a country. According to United Negro Education Fund, ‘a mind is a terrible thing to waste’. The Federal government of Nigeria must embark on a Nigerian modeled marshal Plan to transform the North East which is the stronghold of Boko Haram. The enduring weapon should be educating the teeming youth that has fallen prey to the ugly doctrine called Boko Haram. Do not for a moment think that I do not support the Joint Task Force initiative by President Muhammadu Buhari, the root cause of Boko Haram is what I am proffering solution to. After the military might have conquered the sect, what is next? I am sure the world expects victory over Boko Haram as quickly as possible as demanded by President Muhammadu Buhari, so that other pressing issues in the Buhari’s administrative agenda can be pursued.
We as a nation must collectively be ready to sacrifice for the common good of all. We must be ready TO PAY for our children’s meal and other needs especially in the ravaged North East to go to school. In order that we are not criticized for neglecting the rest of the country, let it touch all. Whatever we as a nation decide to do must ensure equity and fairness. From the elementary primary school, let these youngsters know that their government cares for them and willing to give them a chance to succeed in life. The moment we build this patriotic fervor in our children’s mind, it will be very hard if not impossible for sects like Boko Haram to hijack them from the wheel of progress they know will be the end result.
It is often said that an extraordinary situation demands an extraordinary solution, which is what we must be prepared for especially for the North Eastern part of Nigeria. Our educational system to say the least needs a total overhaul. From our Pre-K to the university level, the standard at the present moment is nothing to be proud of.
The current 6-3-3-4 system should become a mandatory 6-3-3-2 fully financed by the federal government. This is the break down that I think will help move our nation forward. Elementary/primary 6 years, where our children are introduced to compulsory sport and athletic activities, a second language and instrument playing. At the junior high school 3 years, STEMAI(Science-Technology-Engineering Mathematics, Agriculture & Investment) should be mandatory for every student even at their senior high school 3 years. Apprenticeship/community colleges/polytechnics 2 years, where they can learn trades like plumbing, fashion design, electrical training, mechanized farming, nursing, dentistry, radiology, laboratory, real estate management, surveying, hotel and hospitality, tourism, film making etc free and fully paid for by the government.
If we are committed to doing this, Nigeria would have provided every child a tool to succeed in life and become a productive member of our society. The investment that we as a nation have expended on each child will bear incredible wealth that there will not be any need to build prisons and other facilities that will incarcerate them for any criminal act. No terrorist organization will therefore be able to successfully lure these able, patriotic, educated, vibrant, productive youth to do their bidding of terrorism. At this point, an average Nigerian supported by the government would have attained a level of independence to choose his/her educational and professional career after working and saving for advancement or to pursue the trade that they have learnt and strife to become experts and entrepreneurs.
University or highly professional academic pursuit should become optional and in which case, the government should provide loans, grants and scholarship for the students in that category. The current National Youth Service program should be re-organized and extended to 2 years. For every graduate coming out of our universities, the first year should be for compulsory military training while the second year should be for community service. If Nigeria as a nation can follow this route ensuring that every Nigerian knows that the government is there for his or her wellbeing, each of us as Nigerians should then be ready to give back to our nation the best patriotism and contribution that would see to its wellness and progress. If we can strictly undertake to do these, our youth would no longer be idle and would not be there anymore to be used at will by any dangerous group to unleash havoc on sections of our society.
Oribamise writes from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States.