Education, not war will defeat Boko Haram – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that even if Nigeria wins the war against Boko Haram sect on the military front, it still needs proper education of the masses to sustain the victory.
The ex-president said Nigeria must give education the priority it deserves or the dream of having a great nation would remain a pipe dream.

He noted that Federal Government needs to tackle Boko
Haram insurgency from the power of education as it does militarily.
He spoke while delivering the 11th convocation lecture of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State.
Speaking on a topic titled: “Effective Educational System: A Panacea for Societal Development and Transformation,” Obasanjo said education remains the most powerful tool against the indoctrination of Boko Haram sect.
He urged the federal government to be more truthful and appealing as well as promote literacy in the Northeast.
He said Boko Haram thrives in the Northeast because of the region’s educational backwardness.
He said,” Do the needful to exterminate the scourge and social economic development of the area concern and talk with the group that is ready to talk.
“Boko Haram thrives on indoctrination. Spreading hate messages to propagate its messages through popular media. We must be able to counter Boko Haram hate messages with education in our schools and social media to dilute such messages of those who have been swayed by Boko Haram. The Nigeria airwaves and social media should be should also be accentuated with positive messages.”
“We have to reverse the trend of educational backwardness of the Northeast because Boko Haram was a menace waiting to happen. Empowering the youth with skills and taking them off the yoke of the unemployed and the promises of Boko Haram.”
Obasanjo, who also blamed poor educational system for massive youth unemployment said, moulding of character was completely ignored by Nigerian tutors.

The Nation."