Dr Abiola Adimula, the Director of Centre of Peace, Security Studies of Al-Hikma University, Ilorin on Wednesday advocated engagement and employment of Nigerian youths as panacea to the growing insecurity in the country.
Adimula made the call while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the 1st Peace and Conflict Management Retreat and Training, organised by the Centre in Ilorin.
She stated that a major way of fighting insecurity in Nigeria was to work well with the youth.
“There is need to re-orientate our youths in peaceful coexistence. Peaceful coexistence is very important these days,” she said.
The expert on peace and security studies observed the link between insecurity and the growing unemployment of youths who could not explore their talents.
She reiterated the need for government at all tiers to look into issues of unemployment in the country, adding that there was need for them to be productive for the country.
“When you employ these youths, they will be able to use their knowledge and intellect for the progress of the country and not otherwise.
“The situation of security in the country is so bad, such that it must be looked into because of the deadly dimensions,” she said.
She noted that the centre for peace and security studies engaged students to learn on security matters as well as indulge in research and training, using communities for their practical aspect of studies.
Also, Dr Raji Shittu, the Immediate Past Director of the centre stated that Nigeria needed to embrace “Digital Security” in the fight against insecurities in the country.
According to him, the method of using Analogue means of fighting insecurity is outdated and that the method employed all over the world is digital security system.
“Let’s get advance weaponry and technology to deal with insecurities. I think when we address it, we can de-escalate conflict in Nigeria,” he said.
Shittu who also teaches at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies of the University of Ilorin, observes that Nigerian insecurity problem is unfortunate but can be surmounted if all stakeholders can do the needful including tackling the challenges of lopsided structural composition of the society.
“The society must be structured and premised on fairness, justice and equity.
“A society where these are lacking will be festering with individuals who are frustrated, and aggressive because their needs are not met.
“There is need to address societal issues from these perspectives. Let the society be balance and there is need to make available opportunities for lawful engagements and employment.
“If these are done, it will lower the tempo and temper of the masses. Politics is around the corner now, we have to make sure that the exercise is open, free and fair, so that the temper and tempo of the political space will mellow down, ” he observed.
Shittu, however, observed further that studies showed that conflict was integral part of man, and that even after achieving the desired security level, there would always be bad eggs in the society.
“Therefore, there must be concerted efforts to deal with them by the authorities,” he said. (NAN)