The School of Secondary Education (arts and social science programmes) of the Federal College of Education (Special) FCE(S) Oyo, Oyo State, recently held its 17th biennial national conference and award-giving ceremony to appraise the growing spate of insecurity in Africa and the roles Nigeria as a country can play despite her multi-dimensional socio-economic and security challenges.
According to the dean, School of Secondary Education, FCE(S), Dr Oluyemisi Adegbite, the conference was organised in response to the multi-layered challenges currently plaguing the country and Africa, just as the programme also became a milestone for the School having recently secured re-accreditation for all its departments and those affiliated with the University of Ibadan (UI).
In his keynote speech entitled ‘The Quest for Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Nigeria in the Face of multidimensional challenges’ which he presented at the conference, one of the dons, Afolabi Agbaje, a Professor of Political Economy and Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, noted that: “For many people, today’s world is an insecure place as it is full of threats on many fronts, which include: natural disasters, violent conflicts, chronic and persistent poverty, health pandemics, international terrorism, and sudden economic and financial downturns that impose significant hardships and undercut prospects for sustainable development, peace and stability.”
He explained that just as Africa is troubled with lack of peace and security, so also is Nigeria equally bedevilled, but strong political will and sincerity of purpose of those at the corridor of power in the country backed by sufficient public or citizens’ understanding and cooperation remained the only factor that could help the African giant address her seeming intractable challenges and become a model for other countries on the continent.
Agbaje noted that despite being greatly blessed, Africa, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), loses about $195 billion annually through illicit financial flows, illegal mining, illegal logging, illegal trade in wildlife, unregulated fishing, and environmental degradation and loss.
He said: “Nigeria, the African giant, in spite of its challenges, can spearhead the African healing revolution by improving its socio-political process, refocusing value reorientation among its leaders and followers, promoting religious understanding and tolerance, discouraging religious fundamentalists from causing social pains particularly in the North, making its elections more credible, demonetising its politics, and promoting independent candidacy, among others.
In the lead paper presented at the conference, the second don, Dr Gbadamosi Basiru, noted that: “Peace and security are essential ingredients for the growth and development of any nation.”
He added: “Unfortunately, however, African countries are bedevilled with myriads of conflicts; wars and insecurity which not only inhibit social, political and economic growth and development of the African continent but the quality of life of the citizens are equally adversely affected.”
He further highlighted the forms and dimensions of wars and conflicts that characterised African countries as well as the underlying factors responsible for conflicts and insecurity, which he said include political, economic, ethnicity and emerging issues that include terrorisms, drug trafficking, banditry among others.
He said since Nigeria is the African giant, the Federal Government must urgently come up with strategies to mitigate the persistence of wars and conflicts ravaging Africa with the aim of finding lasting solutions to insecurity plaguing the continent.
The highpoint of the programme was the presentation of awards to notable dignitaries among which were the Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, Honourable Bimbo Abolarinwa Ayeni, Honourable Clement Akanni Ademola, Honourable Prince Akeem Adeniyi, and Honourable (Chief) Sunday Ojo Akindele.
and then