Former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has declared that only deliberate investment in mass education can rescue Nigeria from the grip of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Akande spoke on Friday at his residence in Ila, Osun State, while addressing journalists during activities marking his 87th birthday. The elder statesman lamented the falling standard of education, warning that a poorly educated population would continue to fuel violence and underdevelopment.

According to him, countries that prioritise quality and universal education enjoy relative peace and social stability, insisting that Nigeria must return to that path if it hopes to overcome insecurity.

“The answer to insecurity is mass education,” Akande said. “Obafemi Awolowo introduced mass education about 70 years ago, around 1955, and that is why we are not killing ourselves in the South-West.”

He argued that ignorance breeds crime and moral decay, stressing that education is the major difference between a responsible society and a violent one.

“When people are not educated, they behave like animals. They can kill without remorse. Lack of learning destroys values and humanity,” he noted.

Akande added that although the present generation might not completely eradicate insecurity, consistent commitment to deep and universal education would gradually eliminate the menace.

He urged governments at all levels to prioritise funding for schools and teacher training, warning that graduates produced under weak systems would be unable to compete with their counterparts globally.

The APC chieftain maintained that Nigeria’s future depends on how seriously leaders treat education, describing it as the strongest weapon against extremism and criminality.