Former Chief of Army Staff and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, CFR, has called for collective efforts and unity to build a secured Nigeria.
General Buratai gave the remarks Saturday, while being inducted as the 2nd Patron of the Institute of Security, Nigeria, at the 17th International Security Conference.
The event, held at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, University of Lagos, brought together top security experts, academics, and stakeholders to discuss the most pressing security issues facing Nigeria.
General Buratai, emphasized the importance of security education, training, and excellence. He pledged to support the Institute’s initiatives and programs, advocate for policy reforms, and improve security in the country and the world.
“Security education, training, and excellence are at the forefront of our shared vision. We aim to strengthen the capacity of security and law enforcement agencies, ensuring they deliver exceptional services,” General Buratai said.
He also emphasized the need for collective efforts to build a secure Nigeria where citizens can live without fear and prosperity thrives. “Let us unite to build a secure Nigeria where citizens live without fear and prosperity thrives,” General Buratai added.
Performing the investiture, General Olu Bajowa, the 1st Patron of the Institute, praised General Buratai’s exceptional leadership and dedication to Nigeria’s security, setting the tone for a thought-provoking conference that emphasized the need for collective efforts to build a secure Nigeria.
General Bajowa described him as an outstanding Nigerian who embodies courage, determination, and patriotism.
“General Buratai has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of our great nation. He is a distinguished military officer with over 40 years of service to the Nigerian Army,” General Bajowa said.
General Bajowa praised General Buratai’s wealth of experience and expertise, which will undoubtedly inspire and motivate the institute’s members to strive for excellence in security education and practice. He highlighted General Buratai’s distinguished military career, spanning over 40 years, including his tenure as Chief of Army Staff from 2015 to 2021.
“Throughout his illustrious career, General Buratai has embodied the values of courage, integrity, and loyalty. His dedication to the Nigerian Army and the nation is unparalleled, and his contributions to the fight against insurgency and terrorism have been invaluable,” General Bajowa added.
In his remarks, Professor Rahman Bello, Chairman of the occasion, emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt a more inward-looking approach to development. He advocated for prioritizing domestic development, focusing on areas of comparative advantage, such as agriculture, and developing smallholder peasant agricultural production.
“For Nigeria to develop, the government must adopt a more inward-looking approach. Every country that intends to develop must, at some point, focus on its internal capacities,” Professor Bello said.
Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun Rtd., former Chief of Policy and Plans Nigerian Army, stressed the importance of security education, highlighting the need to carry education down to the grassroots. He emphasized that local government empowerment is crucial in addressing security challenges.
“Security education must start from the grassroots. It is a key aspect of our development. We must take security education down to the grassroots. We cannot leave it at the elitist level,” General Adeosun said.
Major General Bulama Biu Rtd., urged the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies to expand its reach beyond the political zone, emphasizing the need to implement ideas and advocate for policymakers to take action.
“We need to extend our frontiers and drive these ideas to make a real impact. Otherwise, we’ll just be limited to our own circles and destinations,” General Biu said.
The event with the theme: Advancing Security Education for Stable Political Systems, Socio Economic Development, Good Governance and Mitigating Terrorism in Nigeria, concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to build a secure Nigeria where citizens can live without fear and prosperity thrives.