Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, on Tuesday gathered in Sokoto with a unified message: Nigeria must urgently prioritize education, skills development, and national unity to avert looming instability.
The leaders spoke during the commissioning of the Bakhita ICT Centre, a facility equipped with 250 laptops and 50 digital tablets designed to train children and youths in ICT and vocational skills. The centre was initiated by Bishop Kukah with the support of Aare Afe Babalola as a contribution towards reducing poverty and unemployment in Northern Nigeria.
Obasanjo described Nigeria’s 24 million out-of-school children as a “ticking time bomb,” warning that neglecting their education could worsen insecurity. “You don’t need an oracle to know they will become the recruiting ground for Boko Haram of tomorrow,” he cautioned, stressing that with Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, failure to invest in education now would make today’s security challenges pale in comparison. He also raised concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and Nigeria’s reliance on food imports despite its agricultural potential.
The Sultan of Sokoto urged Nigerians to embrace unity and reject divisive narratives, insisting that diversity remains the country’s greatest strength. He dismissed foreign reports of religious genocide in Nigeria as exaggerated, pointing to the interfaith solidarity witnessed at the event. He further noted that insecurity has persisted for over 15 years because it has become “a business,” urging leaders to tackle the root causes with sincerity.
Bishop Kukah emphasized that targeted investments in education could unlock the potential of millions of disadvantaged children. “Among the almajiri on our streets, there could be an Albert Einstein. Geography must not define destiny,” he said. The centre, he added, would provide free Wi-Fi and affordable digital resources to ensure inclusivity. He also expressed gratitude to Obasanjo for his unmatched service and to the Sultan for his steadfast commitment to promoting harmony.
The commissioning ceremony, attended by traditional rulers, clerics, political leaders, and youths, featured cultural displays and underscored the importance of interfaith collaboration as a foundation for peace and national development.
