Opinion
Towards Safe Academic Environment
A reflection on the
meaning of Boko Haram; “Western education is a sin,” and a consideration of the stern determination of the insurgents, who have vowed to stop at nothing in stamping out western education in Nigeria, tends to pitch the insurgents on the winning side.
Aside their dogged posture and resilient disposition, these men with the hearts of stone, appear to have the brain power in working out their proposal. This is visible in their choice of Nigerian girls as a contact point for the destabilisation of the stronghold of Western education in Nigeria.
The fact that educating a woman or a girl child is tantamount to educating a whole society makes it possible for any one to believe that these men of the underworld are not out for a joke. May be, the nation is yet to acquaint itself with the reality of the time as the attacks on schools, teachers and female pupils and students in Nigeria have not only increased the number of out-of-school children, but have killed the zeal and interest for western education among parents of female children.
Gradually, the handwriting of the insurgents is becoming clearer by the day, the academic sector has began to feel the impact of the devastation on the system. Not quite long, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) declared that insecurity in some parts of the country, particularly in the north-east, has adversely affected the conduct of its examination.
The killings of thousands of people by the outlawed Boko Haram group, which is opposed to western education, seems to be majorly targeted at schools, teachers, and students.
The result is a whooping number of out-of-school children. According to President Goodluck Jonathan, during his inauguration of the Committee on Safe School initiative, over 10 million children have currently backed out of school. Why? The fear of Boko Haram attack.
Ofcourse, any same person could view this trend as a right step in a right direction. This is so because security of life comes first before rights and privileges. Suffice it to say that one must first be alive before considering education and when such protection could not come from the authority vested with the power and responsibility to secure lives and properties, humans learn to take their destinies and fates by their hands.
For most parents in the north, it is better to have illiterate children that are alive, than to have educated ones that are dead or kidnapped. The height of phobia for the activities of the insurgents especially in the northern part of the country, is gradually grinding academic activities to a halt if nothing is done to arrest the situation.
This makes the ‘Safe School Initiative’ a welcome idea as that, if faithfully pursued, could help salvage the situation seeing that no parent or child could risk life for education.
However, my worry is that, it takes my country nothing to come up with ideas, and initiatives, and programmes aimed at alleviating dilapidating situations and conditions, but becomes a very big tug-of-war to make such initiatives work. This accounts for why we have many moribund agencies and boards. It is worst when governments change batons of leadership because, successive governments consider it less profitable, continuing projects initiated by previous administrations, to the detriment of the citizenry, who are the eventual beneficiaries of such initiatives.
Security measures that enhance public safety are a critical priority in today’s increased threat environment. In any operational scenario, public safety must not be downplayed as efforts populace should be acquainted with the relevant information on what to do at critical times becomes imperative.
To check the increasing number of school drop-outs, a ‘Safe School Initiative’ was launched in Nigeria’s during the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Abuja, Nigeria a capital, in May.
The finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had said that the fund would help ensure that children in schools in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states got educated in safe environments.
With a total of 100 million dollars needed as take-off grants for the Safe School Initiative programme, it is expected that schools in the volatile north-east, where Boko Haram has carried out series of attack, are safe for learning.
Although President Jonathan has pledged the resolve of his administration to tackle insurgency headlong during the inauguration of the steering committee on Safe School Initiative, the nation is watching, hoping that it does not end like our “usual” adhoc arrangements.
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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