Prof. Olawale Albert of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan has urged government to adopt scientific strategies in tackling insecurity in the country.
Albert gave the advice in Ibadan on Tuesday at the public lecture organised by the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies Students’ Association (IPSSSA) of the University of Ibadan.
The don, who offered an insight into the history of peace studies globally, noted that understanding the psychology of modern-day terrorists and other factors were crucial in securing peace.
He urged the Federal Government to tap into the vast resources of knowledge it had in terms of experts in peace and conflict resolutions which other African countries were benefiting from.
He said: “Nigeria needs to be proactive in addressing issues of insecurity headlong; we are now in a knowledge economy and the country needs to realise this.
“You can’t move a nation forward in ignorance through denial of reality of that society.
” We are looking forward to a moment when we will be honest with ourselves and stop dividing ourselves through the lines of religion and ethnicity.
“That is why the international community is no longer talking to us; we need to wake up to the reality of managing our problems scientifically.
“The world has departed from the old method of few people proffering solutions to insecurity.
” What is done now all over the world is you bring in scientists, people who are familiar with conflict analysis to sit down, analyse the problem sincerely and package actionable solutions.”
Prof. Tajudeen Akanji, the Director of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ibadan, said the theme of the lecture, “Peace Studies and Security Challenges in Nigeria, ” was apt considering series of conflicts in Nigeria.
“Students are supposed to be addressing contemporary issues and getting themselves ready to take leadership role from the present leaders in the country.
“Nations that are developing are nations that are based on knowledge,” Akanji said.
Also speaking, the President of IPSSSA, Mr Moses Abolade, said “the lecture was to help reshape the students’ understanding and to proffer timely and lasting solutions to several security challenges in the country.”
