Philanthropist advocates tech, quality education to tackle insecurity

The Founder of the Adebiyi Habib Foundation, Adebiyi Habib, has identified technological innovation, quality education and improved socio-economic conditions as critical to addressing Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

Habib stated this on Saturday at the third edition of the Adebiyi Habib Foundation Annual Essay and Debate Competition, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Speaking at the grand finale, which attracted dignitaries, education stakeholders, teachers and students, the legal practitioner maintained that sustainable security could not be achieved solely through the deployment of security personnel and conventional law enforcement measures.

He argued that poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education, poor healthcare infrastructure and limited economic opportunities were among the underlying factors that could expose vulnerable communities to crime, exploitation and recruitment into violent groups.

According to him, tackling insecurity required a comprehensive approach that addressed the socio-economic conditions that made communities vulnerable.

“Nigeria’s insecurity challenges cannot be understood in isolation from other social and economic realities. Poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education, poor healthcare infrastructure and limited economic opportunities can increase vulnerability to crime, exploitation and recruitment into violent groups,” he said.

“While insecurity has multiple causes that require coordinated responses, we must recognise that sustainable security goes beyond the deployment of security personnel and conventional enforcement measures. It also requires addressing the conditions that make communities vulnerable in the first place.”

Habib, who described education as one of the most powerful instruments for transforming lives, strengthening communities and building a prosperous nation, said technological innovation had become increasingly important in tackling the country’s developmental challenges.

He said, “Our rationale behind this debate theme was to take our learners on a voyage of discovery, not just for the purpose of debating, but as a research-driven conversation with detailed policy recommendations to be presented through their oratory prowess.

“It is my hope that our security personnel and other stakeholders will leave here with writing notes filled with recommendations from our learners.”

The cyber law expert disclosed that the third edition attracted 465 applications, out of which only 12 schools advanced to the grand finale.

The debate competition was themed, “Technological Innovation Is More Effective Than Conventional Approaches in Combating Poverty, Educational Deficiencies and Poor Healthcare as a Sustainable Solution to Addressing Insecurity in Nigeria.”

He urged teachers and school administrators to equip students with skills beyond academic examinations, including independent thinking, problem-solving, effective communication and responsible engagement with emerging technologies.

He also appealed to parents and guardians to support their children’s aspirations, while calling on communities to work together to ensure that poverty, geographical location and inadequate exposure did not prevent talented children from achieving their potential.

Abeokuta Grammar School won the essay competition, receiving a prize of N400,000 and a full HP desktop computer.

African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta, emerged as the first runner-up, winning N200,000 and an HP printer, while King’s Gift School, Ago Iwoye, came third, receiving N70,000 and an HP printer.

Speaking at the event, Dr Oluremi Salako, who represented the wife of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, announced cash prizes of N250,000 each for the overall best contestants in the debate and essay categories, courtesy of Chief Mrs Temitope Adeola.

Salako also announced cash prizes of N100,000 each for the first runners-up in the debate and essay categories.

The Director of Projects of the foundation, Abanigbe Mosida, said the organisation aimed to create an enabling environment for young people to thrive, particularly in less-developed communities.

More than 1,000 exercise books were distributed to attendees, while certificates of participation were presented to all finalists.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, represented by Dr Tunde Tella, who represents Abeokuta North Constituency; the Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area, Idris Kusimo; and the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, represented by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Lukmon Adeola.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, was represented by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi.