The President of the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria  (COSFAN), Ekundayo Samuel, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise funding for education, stating that sustainable investment in the sector remains the most effective solution to Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.

Speaking on Monday during an interview with CEOAFRICA, the UK-trained scholar described insecurity as a consequence of systemic exclusion, inequality, and neglect of education. He stressed that no nation can rise above the quality of its educational system.

According to Samuel, widespread illiteracy has created a pool of vulnerable individuals who are easily manipulated into criminal and extremist activities.

“Nigeria’s large pool of uneducated individuals provides a ready supply of recruits for extremist groups,” he said, adding that those deprived of education often lack awareness of their roles in society.

He noted that educated citizens are more likely to be productively engaged, reducing their susceptibility to involvement in violent or unlawful activities.

Samuel also decried what he described as inadequate political will to properly fund education in line with global development benchmarks, urging the government to realign budgetary priorities toward infrastructure development and improved welfare for lecturers and researchers.

“Nigeria cannot overcome insecurity without investing in education, employment, community development, and effective governance,” he said.

Addressing broader structural issues, the COSFAN President identified inequality, corruption, and uneven distribution of resources as major drivers of instability. He warned that growing inequality continues to deepen divisions and erode national cohesion.

He further called for constitutional reforms to promote inclusiveness in governance, arguing that exclusion from decision-making processes often fuels discontent and sabotage.

“When people who are supposed to be at the decision table are not there, there will be problems,” he stated.

Samuel emphasised the need for merit-based leadership, urging the government to appoint competent individuals into critical roles to enhance effective governance.

Highlighting the global achievements of Nigerians, he noted that many citizens are excelling in leadership roles across international organisations. To address the growing wave of emigration, popularly known as “Japa,” he advocated for policies that would encourage a reverse trend—“Japada”—by creating an enabling environment for professionals to return home.

While commending the policy direction of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he advised that greater attention be paid to communication and grassroots engagement to ensure policies are well understood and effectively implemented.

Samuel also urged the Federal Government to leverage the expertise within COSFAN, describing the body as a reservoir of highly skilled, UK-trained professionals capable of contributing to national development.

He concluded by calling on leaders to embrace inclusive governance and prioritise long-term national development, while encouraging citizens to critically assess the track records and ideologies of political leaders before elections.