The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), commissioning the Kaduna Christian Academy in Unguwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Sunday
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has declared that expanding access to quality education remains one of the Federal Government’s most effective strategies for combating terrorism, violent extremism and insecurity across Nigeria.
Musa made the assertion on Sunday during the commissioning of the Kaduna Christian Academy in Unguwan Sunday, Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The school was constructed by the Department of State Services (DSS) as part of efforts to promote community development and enhance national security through education.
Describing Nigeria’s security challenges as an “asymmetric war,” the Defence Minister said terrorist groups and violent extremists often exploit ignorance, hopelessness and misinformation to recruit followers, stressing that education offers a powerful antidote to such threats.
According to him, schools play a crucial role in countering radicalisation by equipping young people with knowledge, critical thinking skills and opportunities for a better future.
“As Minister of Defence, I view this school as a critical military asset without a single rifle,” General Musa said, adding, “True and lasting security is anchored on the defeat of ignorance and the conquest of hopelessness. This school is a weapon of mass instruction in the right hands.”
He noted that the commissioning of the academy was more than a ceremonial event, describing it as a demonstration of community resilience, inter-agency cooperation and the human-centred approach to Nigeria’s security architecture.
The Kaduna Christian Academy was built through a partnership involving the DSS, Nest Global Resources, Dan Oil Exploration Limited and Tantina Security Services.
The project follows an earlier intervention by the DSS in Danbushiya, also in Chikun Local Government Area, where a school was constructed for the Muslim community.
General Musa commended the DSS for complementing its traditional security responsibilities with developmental initiatives aimed at winning public trust and strengthening social cohesion.
“We see the DSS in a different light—as builders of the future,” he said. “By constructing this academy, the Service has shown that internal security is not just about surveillance and arrest. It is about winning the confidence of the people. A secure mind—one that is educated and enlightened—is the best defence against the merchants of chaos.”
The Minister urged residents of Unguwan Sunday and the wider Kaduna community to take ownership of the institution and protect it from vandalism and other threats.
Addressing the students, he described the school as a sanctuary of hope where they would not only acquire academic knowledge but also learn values such as citizenship, tolerance and critical thinking.
He also reassured parents that the project demonstrated government’s commitment to their welfare and future, noting that education investments provide lasting benefits beyond political cycles.
For Kaduna State, he said, the academy complements ongoing efforts by the state government to expand access to inclusive and quality education while bridging the gap between security operations and community development.
Although established to serve the Christian community, Musa emphasized that the academy stands as a symbol of religious harmony and inclusiveness, reflecting the spirit behind the earlier school project built for the Muslim community.
He charged the school’s management and teaching staff to maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism, while calling on local youths to see the facility as a collective inheritance rather than a target for destruction.
The event attracted government officials, religious leaders, traditional rulers and community stakeholders.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Justice, Barrister James Kanyip, praised the initiative and pledged continued collaboration between the state government, security agencies and private sector partners to advance development across the state.
The project is widely seen as part of a growing recognition that education and community empowerment are essential components of Nigeria’s long-term security strategy.
